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New virus attacks?

R

rw120555

Golden Member
I've been getting bombarded today with messages about files containing viruses (typically the W32/Sobig.f@MM virus; or else questionable attachments that may or may not have viruses). I've also been getting a bunch of messages about my messages being rejected because they contain attachments.

Now, I'm not sending out any files with attachments, and as far as I know my system is virus free. So, I'm assuming some program has cloned my email address while that or some other program has decided to bombard me with viruses.

Anybody know if something new is going on in the virus world today? Or is this just my unlucky today to get hit with stuff like this? Guess I've got to figure out a new filter in Eudora to separate this stuff out, because I'm getting a little tired of it! And I hate to think people think I am sending them viruses, but I don't know what I can do if some rogue program just decides to claim it is me.
 
a very busy world virus wise.

Sobig, and a few msblast variants are spreading rapidly. Make sure everything is patched and virus files up to date.
 
Yeah, I got about 10-12 of those emails this morning within a 2 hour period. Strange, but as long as you're protected (or really gullible enough to open those files), it's not too big of a problem.
 
THe ones being rejected are from the virus infected computer making the virus laden emails look like they are coming from you. When they are sent to a non valid email addy, they return email is being sent to your addy. I have it happen with one of my users now. PITA!
 
What is happening now is that I am getting all these messages saying my email was rejected because it has a virus. So, other email systems are stopping the virus-infected email. But, it still may make me look bad if people think I have failed to protect my system! And of course, who knows how many virus-infected messages with my email address are getting through.

Today is definitely the worst that I have ever personally experienced. Even for those who are protected, I wonder if the barrage of messages is having any effect on system performance. PITA is right, and it is a little scary -- what is to keep 100s or thousands of messages like this from coming through every day, even if you are protected from the virus itself?

EDIT: The docs for the virus say the return address is probably spoofed -- so hopefully people won't get too mad at me for sending them a virus! But if they do, I won't be the only one.
 
Thanks Rich for the info.

I got about 18 of these today (and the day is not over).

I do not open an Attachment unless I requested it, or and it comes after normal email message from a credible source that explains ahead what it is about.

Everybody should be careful about their email settings; some email/webmail programs can open an attachment automatically.
 
After a busy morning and at least 30 messages, I haven't been hit for several hours (knock on wood). Maybe whatever computer or computers that had my email address got patched or shut down.

I use Eudora, which doesn't seem to have nearly as many problems as Outlook does. Also, I have quickview plus on my machine. One of its nice features is that it lets you view a file without actually opening it. I keep my virus definitions up to date, but luckily, our campus system seems to catch most viruses first (but it is not perfect; the tech guys have been busy all week rebuilding machines that got the msblaster virus.)

EDIT: Turns out that, after getting 11,000 infected messages, my university, instead of only cleaning them, decided to stop delivering them altogether.
 
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