Microsoft Support just sent me an email with an atachment, but what the hell is the attachment?

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BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
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Hi,
I just recieved a email from:
support@microsoft.com

Saying:
All information is in the attached file.

Subject:
Approved (Ref: 38446-263)

Attached file:
ref-394755.pif (52.7kb)


What the hell is it though?
Ive virus scanned the file, and its ok, the icon for it is a msdos icon, but when i try to run it, nothing happens. So wtf is it?
 
T

TheOmegaCode

Platinum Member
Aug 7, 2001
2,954
1
0
I think they're called program information files. Too lazy to Google them :p

Open them up in notepad and see if there's anything there...
 
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BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
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0
Not a clue.
From from what i can tell from the garbled text in notepad, i can just about make out, "does not run in dos mode", strange, considering windows has assigned it a MSDOS icon.
If you want, i`ll forward them both to you so you can check them out. Cos i have no idea what to do with them.
Ive even tryed running them, and it does nothing.
 
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TheOmegaCode

Platinum Member
Aug 7, 2001
2,954
1
0
Originally posted by: Sunner
The Reg article.
Click to expand...
Excellent deduction skills, my dear Watson. It's good to see that some people are up to snuff with what goes on in the outside world...

Well, BoomAM I guess you're just going to have to update your virus defs, and hope you can kill this little beasty in its infancy...
 
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BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
0
0
Bollocks.
I only just got my rig working from my last virus encounter.
Ive just updated AVG Anti-Virus, it now detects the virus, and im now running a complete test.
Which`ll take bloddy ages. Im using 39.17gb of my HD space.
I originally opened the files cosi thought it was from MS OCA reporting a fix for a system bug. Ah well.

I`ll let you know when its finshed/whats happened to my rig
Thanks for the help guys.
 
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BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
0
0
Hello again guys.
Ive done a complete test, it detected 3 files, and moved them to the AVG Virus Vault, should i leave them there, or delete them from the virus vault as well?
 
Mem

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Ive done a complete test, it detected 3 files, and moved them to the AVG Virus Vault, should i leave them there, or delete them from the virus vault as well?
Click to expand...
BoomAM,

I would delete them from the virus vault,then run a full anti-virus scan again just to be sure.

 
D

drag

Elite Member
Jul 4, 2002
8,708
0
0
The file ran. It just went to quick for you to notice the msdos window. It would of given you a error or ask what you wanted what program you wanted to open up the attatchment in. So whatever it is you've probably already installed it on your computer.

Why the hell would MS support mail you a attatchment without explaining what it was is a mistery to me.

Open up a dos window and run it from there and see what information it poops out if your interested. I would e-mail microsoft support a copy of the e-mail and attatchment and ask them why they sent it to you.

more then likely, you'd best be sure that your virus definitions are kept up to date on a daily basis and make sure that you keep a eye on background proccesses and such.
 
H

HarryAngel

Senior member
Mar 4, 2003
511
0
0
Originally posted by: Mem
Ive done a complete test, it detected 3 files, and moved them to the AVG Virus Vault, should i leave them there, or delete them from the virus vault as well?
Click to expand...
BoomAM,

I would delete them from the virus vault,then run a full anti-virus scan again just to be sure.
Click to expand...

 
S

Sunner

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
11,641
0
76
Originally posted by: drag
The file ran. It just went to quick for you to notice the msdos window. It would of given you a error or ask what you wanted what program you wanted to open up the attatchment in. So whatever it is you've probably already installed it on your computer.

Why the hell would MS support mail you a attatchment without explaining what it was is a mistery to me.

Open up a dos window and run it from there and see what information it poops out if your interested. I would e-mail microsoft support a copy of the e-mail and attatchment and ask them why they sent it to you.

more then likely, you'd best be sure that your virus definitions are kept up to date on a daily basis and make sure that you keep a eye on background proccesses and such.
Click to expand...

It's not actually from MS.
 
M

Mitzi

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2001
3,775
1
76
When will people learn..don't open unexpected attachments. FYI, Microsoft would NEVER send files through email....
 
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BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
0
0
Originally posted by: Mem
Ive done a complete test, it detected 3 files, and moved them to the AVG Virus Vault, should i leave them there, or delete them from the virus vault as well?
Click to expand...
BoomAM,

I would delete them from the virus vault,then run a full anti-virus scan again just to be sure.
Click to expand...

Im going to do that now.
Thanks for the help guys.
 
B

BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
0
0
Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
DO NOT OPEN EXECUTABLE EMAIL ATTACHMENTS! (I thought this was common knowledge around here at least?)
Click to expand...

I dont usually open anything thats been downloaded or sent by email until i virus scan it.
My virus scanner didnt pick it up till i updated it, by which time, was too late.
Becides i dont usually associate *.pif files as a executable.
 
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BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
0
0
After reading that ZDNet report, it seems like the UK is the most affected.
Bloody virus programmers, they all need lining up and shot.
Why the hell do they do it anyway? If its to show off their programming skill, then why not put it to better use, like programming something useful.
 
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BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
0
0
Forgot,
bolomite, or anyone else infected, theres detailed info on everything the virus does on the McAffee main webpage. It seems that it changes parts of the registary as well.
Link to information on the little ah heck.
How come i got two copies of the virus anyway? Is there anyway to trace where they have come from?
 
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