07-04-2003, 10:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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For The Love Of All Things Binary - Update Your Anti-Virus Software!
We have been receiving a number of viruses at the @pocketpcthoughts.com aliases and I have to assume at least some of those are coming from our readership that have us in their contact databases. We've even received one from that purported to be from a reputable Windows CE software company. These are the ones from the W32/Sobig family and generally have a .PIF or .ZIP attachment with any number of subjects.
� Movie
� Remember last night when...? :roll:
� Please see the attached zip file for details.
These viruses generally require you to open and execute them, but even if you did, your AV software company has had detection files available for months now.
So please, if you receive a file from a friend that you weren't expecting, contact them. Chances are, they will have no idea what you are talking about. If you just can't resist the urge to run the attachment, please make sure your anti-virus software is up to date.
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07-04-2003, 10:03 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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There is one complication to contacting your friends, though: some variants of the Sobig worm forge the "From" address by picking another random address from your addressbook. So, just to be sure, contact all your friends to make sure their antivirus definitions are up-to-date. 
--janak
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07-04-2003, 10:10 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 89
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Yah and don't use Outlook... uh
Outbreak is probably the #1 virus vector.
I hate it I hate it I hate it.
But I have no other choice for a desktop repository for my iPaq, or do I? I would infinitely prefer to use even Palm desktop... that isn't possible, is it?
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07-04-2003, 10:10 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Exactly! That's what makes these viruses to hard to squash - when I get one from someone I know, it could be their computer that is infected, or just someone who has them in their address book - there's no way to tell. 8O
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07-04-2003, 10:16 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Re: Yah and don't use Outlook... uh
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Originally Posted by jmarkevich
Outbreak is probably the #1 virus vector.
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Outlook has had its own share of vulnerabilities, but this worm can affect anyone. It's a ZIP attachment that you must open and run the contents of to get infected. You'd be surprised at the number of people who do that. Moreover, patched versions of Outlook 2000 (i.e., SP3) and Outlook 2002 (i.e. SP2) are quite safe. Go to http://office.microsoft.com and run the Product Updates wizard (make sure you have your CD handy) if you haven't already.
But what does this have to do with desktop syncing? You aren't forced to use Outlook for email if all you want to do is sync with your Pocket PC (unless you want ActiveSync-based email syncing as well).
--janak
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07-04-2003, 11:18 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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Next thing you know, you guys will be reminding us to do backups. Heaven knows we all do that regularly also. I mean, does basic computer maintenance still need to be explained? :lol:
[/Sarcasm off]
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07-04-2003, 11:37 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by vincenzosi
Next thing you know, you guys will be reminding us to do backups. Heaven knows we all do that regularly also. I mean, does basic computer maintenance still need to be explained? :lol:
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We have reminded people to do backups! :lol: Check out this or this.
We're here to take care of ya... 
--janak
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07-04-2003, 11:41 PM
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07-04-2003, 11:44 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Re: Yah and don't use Outlook... uh
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
It's a ZIP attachment that you must open and run the contents of to get infected. You'd be surprised at the number of people who do that.
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That is what gets me about this round of emails. This is pure stupidity launching these things. Not one shred of common sense. Sorry if that offends someone, but tough. I never run .EXEs I get in emails. Ever. Do you know how easy it is to write a program that does one thing - just delete a few dozen DLLs in your %system% and %systemroot% folders? No virus scanner will catch that because that isn't a virus anymore than the format.com is a virus, yet it can be very destructive.
Unless I am expecting an updated file from a software vendor, executable email attachments get taken to file 13 real quick, virus or no.
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07-04-2003, 11:51 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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Re: Yah and don't use Outlook... uh
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
That is what gets me about this round of emails. This is pure stupidity launching these things. Not one shred of common sense. Sorry if that offends someone, but tough. I never run .EXEs I get in emails. Ever.
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You know what's even more maddening Ed? There's nothing you can do about it from a sysadmin point of view. Blocking exe's is one thing, but blocking zips? Unrealistic. Blocking attachments altogether? Even worse.
Something annoying praying on people's stupidity (I completely agree with that) that cannot be stopped because people refuse to learn. :evil:
Not for nothing, but even though the "virus" is relatively simple, the people who thought of it really are pretty clever. They exploited the greatest security vulnerability in existence: Human Stupidity. :iamwithstupid:
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ops:
Linear Mode
