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News   News : New computer virus hits inboxes
   posted by DaveyD on 20-Aug-2003 7:08:56 (2189 reads)
August is turning out to be a bumper month for Windows computer viruses.

Hot on the heels of the MSBlast and the Welchi worms has come a fast-spreading variant of the Sobig virus.

The first version of Sobig appeared in June of this year but the newest F variant seems to be the most successful so far.


Anti-virus firm MessageLabs said it had stopped some 40,000 copies of the virus in the last 20 hours and the BBC has received dozens of infected e-mails.

Confidence trick

Like the earlier versions Sobig F spreads by e-mail and by exploiting unsecured network links between Windows PCs.

When it spreads via e-mail, the virus fakes an e-mail address to hide its origins and regularly changes its form and the subject lines of messages it creates to make it harder to spot.

When it infects machines, it harvests e-mail addresses from Outlook address books and net page memory stores.

The suffix of the attachment bearing the virus also changes regularly but most often the malicious program masquerades as a screensaver (.scr) or a Windows program information file (.pif).

The filename of the attached file also changes regularly.

"The author of the Sobig worms has pulled this particular confidence trick several times before," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at anti-virus firm Sophos.

"Releasing Sobig variants on different days of the week, and using slightly different subject lines and filenames, suggests that the worm's author may be trying to find the 'perfect' conditions under which his viruses can spread most quickly," he said.

Fast spreading

Sobig F has now been seen in 60 countries and currently seems to be most prevalent in the US. MessageLabs said Sobig F was "spreading vigorously".

Anti-virus firms urged users to update security software to block the latest variant.

E-mail users are being warned to be wary of messages bearing subject lines such as: Re: details, Re: approved, Re: Thank You, Re: That movie, Re; Wicked Screensaver or Your Details.

"All computer users should exercise caution when deciding what is safe to run on their computers," said Mr Cluley.

The Sobig F virus has a built-in timer that will stop it working on 10 September 2003.
    

STORYID: 798
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The_Editor 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 7:17:52
#1 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 7-Mar-2003
Posts: 7629
From: 192.168.0.02 ..Pederburgh .. Iceni

Had three emails sent this morning infected with that.. Norton trapped em all..

Norton updated itself only yesterday .... Goodie.



virus is W32.sobig.f@mm


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Anonymous 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 7:28:44
# ]



Now there's a platitude if ever I heard one:
Quote:
"All computer users should exercise caution when deciding what is safe to run on their computers," said Mr Cluley.


Personnally, I've decided it's safe to run Linux, MacOS and AmigaOS

Anyone sick of catching viruses and other malware with OE and IE should take a look at Mozilla. Excellent.

 
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DaveyD 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 7:30:34
#3 ]
Team Member
Joined: 5-Jun-2002
Posts: 2738
From: Belfast, N.Ireland

I've used Firebird at work on windows, its much faster and more advanced than IE, the IE engine hasn't changed much since IE 4


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Bodie 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 7:31:01
#4 ]
Super Member
Joined: 9-Jan-2003
Posts: 1439
From: Azjol-Nerub

Yeah got hit four times last night. Thankfully linux is immune :).

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The_Editor 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 7:50:09
#5 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 7-Mar-2003
Posts: 7629
From: 192.168.0.02 ..Pederburgh .. Iceni

Just had ANOTHER hit my inbox !!


It'll be next week before I get the rest of the components for my A1..

Then, not only have I got to suss out the linux installation but also .. How to net connect (ADSL) the A1.. I'm currently using a USB Alcatel modem which I dont think is supported on A1.

Reckon I'm gonna need lots of help,, Rose !!


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Bodie_CI5 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 8:10:03
#6 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 29-Jul-2003
Posts: 6739
From: Unknown

Yeah I know mate! 4 last night in one hit! I swear if I get my hands on them...

LOL editor!

Lurrve my Linux Mdk9.1. I still unable to comprehend wh though people write virii.

Damned idiots for writing them in the first place. Double damned idiots for having them released. (rip-off from Where Eagles Dare, 1963[?] film starring Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton).


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The_Editor 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 8:16:39
#7 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 7-Mar-2003
Posts: 7629
From: 192.168.0.02 ..Pederburgh .. Iceni

Yeah ...

Its a piece of junk

Leaks fuel all over the place !!
(Kelly's Heros)

Btw .. Another hit !! ... Mail email client is set to check every 3 mins.


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Bodie_CI5 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 8:37:47
#8 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 29-Jul-2003
Posts: 6739
From: Unknown

LOL editor, Kelly´s Heroes rox! But I gotta say that ¨you and your negative waves¨ really get me down! (Quote from Donald Sutherland´s character).


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alx 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 8:55:22
#9 ]
Super Member
Joined: 7-Mar-2003
Posts: 1224
From: Midlands, UK

I've just had 8 come in


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Bodie_CI5 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 9:21:46
#10 ]
Elite Member
Joined: 29-Jul-2003
Posts: 6739
From: Unknown

@ alx

oh dear!


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Anonymous 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 12:57:52
# ]



hmmm, I get 100s of them in my in box now.....

 
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unclecurio 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 13:07:51
#12 ]
Regular Member
Joined: 22-Jan-2003
Posts: 411
From: Edinburgh, Scotland

Not had one yet. At least, I've seen nothing come in with an attachment thus far.


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Snuden 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 20-Aug-2003 19:57:54
#13 ]
Member
Joined: 9-Mar-2003
Posts: 77
From: Denmark

Quote:
Yeah got hit four times last night. Thankfully linux is immune :).


I'm quite sure that with a few hours work I can configure Evolution to run all Visual Basic and Win32 attachments included in an email through wine when you receive them.

How about that?

Oh well, seriously virus coders should be shot on sight. I've got enough work to do allready.

Ah, and this goes for everyone: Don't try running Windows virusses through wine, it'll work all too perfectly and #### up your machine, especially if your running as root.


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Anonymous 
Re: New computer virus hits inboxes
Posted on 21-Aug-2003 8:02:22
# ]



Gah 10 or 11 bounces from some one with the virus spoofing my email address.

It's not so bad, I feel really popular.

 
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