SignWriting List Forum| Message 5981 | Previous | Next [ Up Thread ] | Message Index |
|
SignWriting List Forum |
|||
|
|
From:
Valerie Sutton Date: Wed Nov 28, 2001 3:55 pm Subject: Computer Virus W32/Badtrans-B | |
|
SignWriting List November 28, 2001 My dear friends - I normally do not discuss computer viruses...But after being forced to re-format my entire hard drive last night, because of a viscious new virus called virus W32/Badtrans-B, I think I should at least tell you about it, so you are informed. And this has NOTHING to do with the SignWriting List messages, since they are sent from the Listserve software that runs the SignWriting List... This new virus is related to individual email messages you might receive in your email box from a friend. How does it work? 1. You receive an email message from someone you know, so you assume the message is a good one, and you assume it is from your friend (it is not). 2. When you open the email message, there is nothing in the message area - it is blank. 3. If you try to reply to the message, to tell your friend that there was no message, it is returned, because the virus takes the email address from your email address book (isn't that mean?), and then adds a blank space at the beginning of the email address...you don't notice that blank space, unfortunately. 4. Once you do that, you have now been infected. And the infected attached file, ending with a .doc or .pif, is HIDDEN. It does not show up as an attached file with the message. The infected file shows up in the trash can, when you delete the message. Because I have five web sites, I am more vulnerable. I was not that careful when I saw the subject line from a close friend, and I opened it. The result was that my Mac has been flooded with weird email messages that have nothing in the message area, but then when I trash them, an infected document appears in the trash can. I understand that with the virus W32/Badtrans-B, in some cases, one need not even open the attachment to get infected. So, I think you better be careful. It creates many different extensions and could come with many different attachments. And don't let them tell you it is only on the PC - I am pure Mac and I had to re-format my hard drive! There is only one real solution to all this - backup your important files on separate disks, stored in a safe place. Soooo...if you have to re-format your hard drive, you can then reconstruct your work. In my case, I have finally learned the hard way...I now back up my ENTIRE hard drive, every three days, onto another hard drive, so I was able to re-format and reconstruct quickly - Now, let's get back to fun work. I have a bunch of things to tell you, and some lovely photos to share with you.... -- Val ;-) Valerie Sutton SignWritingSite: https://www.SignWriting.org SignWriting List Archives: https://groups.yahoo.com/group/sw-l/ To post a message to the SW List: |
|