'new' MSN virus ??

  • Thread starter Thread starter ComPCs
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ComPCs

Despite the fact that MSN Messenger has been attacked by viruses since
circa 2001, some keen IT 'graduate' at Reed (www.reed.co.uk) is
circulating an email warning people of a "new MSN virus" and not to open
any files "over the next few days" ..... *sigh* ..... as the various AV
vendors currently have no fix.

OK, good advice in the main, but certainly not something "new" that folk
should be adopting. 2 housepoints for being keen mind.

Nonetheless, anyone have info on this "new" virus?
 
ComPCs said:
Despite the fact that MSN Messenger has been attacked by viruses since
circa 2001, some keen IT 'graduate' at Reed (www.reed.co.uk) is
circulating an email warning people of a "new MSN virus" and not to open
any files "over the next few days" ..... *sigh* ..... as the various AV
vendors currently have no fix.

OK, good advice in the main, but certainly not something "new" that folk
should be adopting. 2 housepoints for being keen mind.

Nonetheless, anyone have info on this "new" virus?
Click to expand...

On the face of it, it looks like a hoax to me - but you only gave a
brief synopsis. If it is real, we should be hearing about it soon.
 
ComPCs said:
Despite the fact that MSN Messenger has been attacked by viruses since
circa 2001, some keen IT 'graduate' at Reed (www.reed.co.uk) is
circulating an email warning people of a "new MSN virus" and not to open
any files "over the next few days" ..... *sigh* ..... as the various AV
vendors currently have no fix.

OK, good advice in the main,
Click to expand...

no its not - although some wait 24hrs to open files to ensure their
antivirus definitions are up to date.
but certainly not something "new" that folk
should be adopting. 2 housepoints for being keen mind.

Nonetheless, anyone have info on this "new" virus?
Click to expand...

Rule of thumb is whenever you receive email advice from anyone
(including your friends) don't believe it.

Never ever believe it if is states that it so new / clever / different
that antivirus vendors have no fix.

Never ever believe it if it asks you to search for and manually delete
the "virus" (this is actually more like an 'irish' virus - apologies to
the irish).

Never ever forward the 'warning' to anyone - EVER!

If you are still in doubt - check here first...
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBMalCode.shtml

If you do get a 'warning' from your friends then ask them to never ever
demonstrate their ignorance again.

If you want reliable warnings - sign up for free email warnings from a
reputable antivirus vendor.
 
Despite the fact that MSN Messenger has been attacked by viruses since
circa 2001, some keen IT 'graduate' at Reed (www.reed.co.uk) is
circulating an email warning people of a "new MSN virus" and not to open
any files "over the next few days" ..... *sigh* ..... as the various AV
Click to expand...

"GOOD TIMES" rule again!!

Regards, Dave Hodgins
 
On the face of it, it looks like a hoax to me - but you only gave a
brief synopsis. If it is real, we should be hearing about it soon.
Click to expand...


oh, I don't doubt some 'bod' at this corporate organisations got whiff
of something and wanted to score some points, or 'gee' folk up, but
then, allegedly, the 'apparent' head of IT at said organisation also
circulated an email in response to the one he'd seen from the OP warning
folk about this new virus, and not to take previously said action for
the "next few days", so it must be something serious

[chortle chortle]

Nah, I was just wondering if this was a 'heads up', or as you say, some
suited corporate worker who was passing on the usual crap.

Sorry, i'm making it too obvious I have little time for corporate IT
graduates who have absolutely no 'on the ground' experience whatsoever,
and who should be warning users not to open .exe. or .com files (amongst
others) as a matter of course.

One wonders why such a large organisation would be letting users loose
with MSN Messenger in the first place?

ah, well ... my place in the IT world is secure so long as folk like
that are in existence.
 
ComPCs said:
On the face of it, it looks like a hoax to me - but you only gave a
brief synopsis. If it is real, we should be hearing about it soon.
Click to expand...

oh, I don't doubt some 'bod' at this corporate organisations got whiff
of something and wanted to score some points, or 'gee' folk up, but
then, allegedly, the 'apparent' head of IT at said organisation also
circulated an email in response to the one he'd seen from the OP warning
folk about this new virus, and not to take previously said action for
the "next few days", so it must be something serious

[chortle chortle]
Click to expand...

LOL - no doubt it could be easily predicted that MSN vector malware will
appear from time to time. I wonder how frequently this actually happens.
Nah, I was just wondering if this was a 'heads up', or as you say, some
suited corporate worker who was passing on the usual crap.
Click to expand...

Due to recent solar flares (SF) and solar mass ejections (SME), the
International Electric Safety Organization (IESO) warns of possible
voltage spikes on the power grid. The IESO recommends not wetting your
finger and sticking it in energized lightbulb sockets for the next few
days or until more information is available. :))
Sorry, i'm making it too obvious I have little time for corporate IT
graduates who have absolutely no 'on the ground' experience whatsoever,
and who should be warning users not to open .exe. or .com files (amongst
others) as a matter of course.
Click to expand...

I hear you. Aside from the possibility that a "new" one probably comes
every couple of days, they should worry about the old ones happening to
get through existing defenses (if there are any defenses) and the many
trojans (easily built and as yet undetected) that may arrive by way of
the same vector. If proper policies are enforced - warnings such as
these (from the IT department) are unnecessary.
One wonders why such a large organisation would be letting users loose
with MSN Messenger in the first place?
Indeed!

ah, well ... my place in the IT world is secure so long as folk like
that are in existence.
Click to expand...

:))
 
David W. Hodgins said:
Thanks for the info.

Regards, Dave Hodgins
Click to expand...
new virus is nothing *new* shoot they already have a virus for M$ newest os
Vista (formally Longhorn the next incarnation in the windows line to replace
XP the later half of 2006)

http://www.snpx.com/cgi-bin/news55.cgi?target=104695392?-1313

<CnP from above link>
Microsoft "got burned," by including similar software, called Windows Script
Host, by default in its Windows 2000 operating system, he said. "Since it
was on the system, all the virus writers were exploiting it."
</CnP from above link>
One would think M$ would learn; but I can see their point; because they have
been getting a lot of flack about taking a lot of the power out of windows
and I think they are trying to put more command line control back in to try
and entice the *nix people back into the fold.
 
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