S E P T E M B E R |
|||
| S E P T E M B E R | 1 9 9 9 |
||
 |
|
|
Computing Infrastructure Support (CIS) CIS Computer Help Desk Computer Security Unix Services ISS Mercury Project |
|
New Virus Warning — Count2K Arrives Posing as Microsoft Application A new "Trojan horse" type of virus is circulating, labeled as Count2K and falsely identified as a countdown to the year 2000 (Y2K). This virus is distributed as an email attachment (the self-extracting Y2KCOUNT.EXE) and lists as sender, "support@microsoft.com." The Lab's email virus wall is configured to catch this problem, but if you do receive a copy, don't open the attachment. Instead, forward it to cppm@lbl.gov The message reads: "To All Microsoft Users, We are excited to announce Microsoft Year 2000 Counter. Start the countdown NOW. Let us all get in the 21 Century. Let us lead the way to the future and we will get YOU there. FASTER and SAFER. For more information about this virus, click here. Such viruses are called Trojan horses, after the "gift" horse built by the ancient Greeks as a ruse to slip soldiers into the walled city of Troy. Such problems can be avoided by only running programs which have been purchased from a reputable company or downloaded from a reliable site, according to Jim Rothfuss, the Lab's Computer Protection Program manager. |
|
Return to Computing News |