One of our listmembers, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) has a
virus infecting their email that has attachments. This particular virus is
a morphing virus that can change it's name. One of the attachment files
that contain the virus is Hampster.exe. Do not click on the link in the
email you receive from PDF.
PDF has an autoresponder which sends a quick reply to any email they
receive and it seems to be misconfigured so that it replies to every
message sent by the listserv. If you have posted to the list recently, you
probably have received this auto reply. Delete the message and the
accompaning attachment.
If you run the .exe file attached, you have been infected and any mail you
send can spread the virus.
Outlook Express is very vulnerable to these kinds of viruses.
Update the virus definitions on your computer and have it scan ALL files
for viruses. Virus updating needs to be done monthly since several hundred
new viruses are detected monthly. Some anti-virus programs have a
LiveUpdate button. Connect to the internet first and then click on that
button to download the latest definitions.
Sorry for the length of this post...but it is important to the health of
your computer that you respond in a hastened manner.
The information on the present virus threat is as follows:
**********************************************************************
Virus Information
**********************************************************************
Virus name: W32.Plage.Worm
Aliases:
Infects: .EXE files
Likelihood: Rare
Length: 0 bytes
Characteristics
Memory resident No Triggered event No
Size stealth No Encrypting No
Full stealth No Polymorphic No
Comments:
No additional information.
John Cottingham
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John Cottingham
