Inbox Attack

I don't know about anyone else, but my inbox seems to be under attack right now. It's all because of a new virus that is a mass mailer virus. It comes into your inbox and might have one of the following subjects:

• test
• hi
• hello
• Mail Delivery System
• Mail Transaction Failed
• Server Report
• Status
• Error

It also contains an attachment, usually one like body.pif or test.pif.

My mother-in-law is one of the unlucky ones who is infected by this worm that once it infects you, sends out emails randomly to people in your address book. But, the little bugger is smart to. It looks for addresses that contain words like admin or webmaster and skips over those. We wouldn't want it infected anyone who might recognize the mail message as a virus now would we?

Anyway, if you receive this e-mail, even if it is from a friend, especially if it comes from a friend, do not even open it. DELETE IT. Once it is deleted, empty your deleted items just to make sure it's gone. Also, to make sure you do not open it, turn off the preview pane in your email program. I've said this a lot before, but your preview pane automatically opens the message. TURN IT OFF!!! In Outlook Express Click on View-->Layout and uncheck Preview Pane.

If you've already been infected, Symantec has good information in what to do to disinfect you system. You can find that response here:
Symantec Security Response - W32.Novarg.A@mm

UPDATE: Panda has a very thorough and user-friendly site for how to figure out if you are infected and how to get rid of it if you are. Go Here for more details:
Panda Software - Virus Info

Filed in: HelpDesk InformationDesk