Virus Masquerades as Microsoft E-Mail (Swen.A)

eWeek ^ | September 18, 2003 | Dennis Fisher

[FourPeas]

A new mass-mailing virus is on the loose on the Internet, this one masquerading as a message from Microsoft Corp. about a cumulative security patch. Known as either Swen or Gibe, the virus is mainly found in Europe right now, but anti-virus experts say it has the potential to spread quickly and widely.

[Elliott Jackalope]

I would buy a PC, but I'm not a masochist!

[exit82]

Time for the "Aw No, Not This S##T Again!" picture.

[mfulstone]

Heads up! It arrived in my inbox this afternoon. I'm in SD.

[NRA2BFree]

I just got it less that half an hour ago.

[olinr]

I too have received four messages (today). It is similar to other fake Microsoft messages. I do not understand why Microsoft does not alert the world. It is their trademark and copyright that is being misrepresented. It took to a few days for Trend Micro (PC-cillin) to acknowledge the hits in the past.

Something is very strange about these infections. Due to the continued hits, I will not open anything that represents Microsoft. Tough luck Bill Gates!

[Squantos]

With regards to two lists of folks . One whom I don't want mail from which is a gazillion squared to the gazillionth power in lenght...... And the short list of close friends and family that I do want e-mail from......is there a program out there that allows just the short want list of e-mails versus making rules and blocking Spam for a month of Sundays ?

Stay Safe

[backhoe]

FREE PC PROTECTION:

• Spybot S&D: Removes lurking spyware.
• AdAware: Removes lurking spyware.
• Bayden Systems Popup Popper: Blocks popup ads well in MSIE
• MailWasher: Good for pre-screening & bouncing SPAM
• AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition: Free anti-viral protection
• Windows Update: At least install the critical ones
• ZoneAlarm: Excellent Firewall

 

Credit: Martin Fierro

[upchuck]

It takes advantage of a two-year-old flaw in Microsoft Outlook

Gee, perhaps there really is an advantage to NOT using Outlook.

There are SO many better ways of doing the same thing, most of which are FRee.

[trini]

Ping.

[NRA2BFree]

I got three of them last night.

[boris]

I got it yesterday and reported it to my company's info security officer. Our IT dept. takes care of all updates and it is highly unusual (to say the least) to see an invite from "Microsoft" on an internal PC.

He seemed unconcerned...

I did a virus scan and nothing was infected; fortunately I do not run Kazaa on my office PC!

--Boris

[George Smiley]

The solution is to have more than one email address.

Look at sneakemail.com for one solution; spamcop is another.

Secondly, don't use your email address anywhere on the Internet where it might get read by spambots.

That includes Usenet groups, guest books and any mailing lists that are available in digest form (all messages for a given day sent out as one email).

That also includes most places where a company or manufacturer wants it as an item on a form.