Hi everyone!
OK.. no need to panic, but please make sure your antivirus definitions are updated. At work your IT guys should take care of this (but ask them if they are updated for this virus already, just to be safe). At home you will need to do it yourself. If you don't have an antivirus program (like McAfee Anti-Virus or Norton Anti-Virus) RUN, do not walk, to buy one. Once you have an anti-virus program installed, your job is not done. It should be updated (this can usually be done automatically with a script that comes with the programs) to get new virus definitions AT LEAST monthly, though I suggest every two weeks or so.
At any given time, there are hundreds or even thousands of viruses floating around. Some are more dangerous than others. Note that there are very few virus information updates released via email. Most legitimate ones come through established anti-virus email update newslists. Those that come to your email from friends telling you to send it to everyone you know are usually hoaxes. Do NOT perpetuate them without researching the facts first!
The Nimda virus has been deemed "high risk" (category 4). It can infect unprotected users of Windows 9x/2000/NT/ME. The virus is received via e-mail in a file titled "README.EXE" or via websites in a file titled "README.EML".
For complete information on the Nimda virus, visit
www.symantec.com/avcenter....a@mm.html or
www.mcafee.com/anti-virus...p?cid=2444As always, do not open files that you were not expecting and always be cautious of what extension the file has. Note that this virus apparently can be launched just by previewing the file (most you have to actually open).
The other virus is BlueCode - a variation of the Chinese RedCode virus that went around recently. It is actually passed along through IIS servers (websites).
Marie
