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http://www.ipm.org/av/SirCam
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you remember seeing this
message?
Hi! How are you?
I send you this file
in order to have your advice.
See you later.
Thanks
Do you remember READING the attached file?
If the answer is "yes" to both, your PC is infected
with one of the trickiest and most dangerous viruses that takes internet by
storm.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Why the trickiest?
It comes with an innocent request for advice from
someone that you know (message can be in Spanish). Attachment - is a real file
from a real person's PC; it might even be relevant to the field of interests of
the person it came from. You will even feel obligated to
reply.
Why the most dangerous?
comes out of the document, goes in to your
Windows registry, and here's where the fun begins.
1. It looks in your PC for every file that is a
Document (*.doc, *.txt), image (*.gif, jpg, etc.) compressed files (*.zip, rar).
2. It takes found documents, copies itself into body
of text and sends silently to each and every email address found in your entire
MS Outlook mail and temporary internet files. Virus does no affect users of
Outlook only, as it is using its own SMTP engine.
3. Reportedly, it destroys documents and blocks drive
C: from writing anything on it, which is the main thing that Windows does --
reads and writes from the hard disk drive. (I know the latter to be true, it did
happen in MY case)
Can you just imagine, your personal
file (even passwords, credit cards, work-related, secret database -
whatever you have that is not meant to be shared) being distributed to
your friends and partners and correspondents?
Is there any immediate cure for a PC infected with
W32-SirCam@MM
?
Is there any precaution against this and
similar viruses?
Yes,
1. Never open attachments from people that you do not
know. If indeed interested in the attachment, or it comes from a friend, always
reply to the sender with the question "Did you send this to me?".
If the answer is "yes", enjoy the file. If "no" just delete email and
empty Deleted files folder. Make sure to reply with the message that he may
be sending a potential virus.
2. Install (unwise to pinch pennies here)
and never turn off Antivirus software. We recommend Norton Antivirus. In Norton
properties, set Auto Update for weekly automatic
downloads.
3. Do not rely (sorry, folks!) on MacAfee
Anti-virus software pre-installed on your PC from the manufacturer. This is what
has happened to me--system admin--for a second time. Two years ago I bought Sony
notebook for home use and MacAfee did not catch "happy99" virus. Several
months ago I bought another GREAT notebook from Sony, got lazy about
uninstalling MacAfee and replacing with Norton. MacAfee slept well with
W32-SirCam@MM from
18th of July, until I received from a friend -----> a positive comment on the
file that I never sent to him <------- !!! I installed my old-time
buddy Norton Antivirus and here we go W32-SirCam@MM was
found!
We came to the conclusion of sending this message to
all friends and partners of this Prison Ministry, after we received 30 infected
emails yesterday. We need to join forces to stop the spread of this
virus.
Please, pass this message on to
your correspondents so they can take all precautionary measurements and
clean their PCs too.
Serge Taran