Helis - a bug or virus

[JohnR]

I don't have a virus checker on this machine. My sole incoming email this morning was from Helis inviting me to visit a website to download the tools to remove the bug. The e-mail had a large attachment.
I deleted it and my temp internet files and my tmp files. I would be interested in knowing what it was if one of you experts receive it.

 

[lyc]

Go to Pc-cillin for a free virus scan and virus info details

http://www.antivirus.com/pc-cillin/vinfo/default.asp?advis=more

Then get yourself an antivirus program

 

[claymore]

We had a message from the network engineers to say it may appear to be from someone you know, it would have an attachment and not to open it but to delete it - seems like you did the right thing!
regards
John S

Sans Signature

 

[peterg]

viruses

Always ensure that after you delete the email and attachment that you also empty your Deleted Items (or Trashcan etc.) folder as until this is done the potential is still there to infect your system.

 

[paul_lomax]

I'd get yourself a virus killer to be on the safe side.

There are a few viruses which install themselves without you even having to open the email attachments - just by previewing the email in outlook.

I've just had to spend £150 on my home computer because I suspect it caught the CIH (chernobyl) virus. Its a nasty little begger. Wipes your motherboard BIOS... And I dont even use email on that machine - probably some free software i downloaded off a website that was affected by it.

 

[BarryD]

Re: viruses

Hey Peter,

Just to be really safe you could always format the hard disk after each email sesssion. Mind you I also purge cookies, temp, deleted items etc.. after most sessions and always reject downloads offers.

Through difficulties to the bar (IMHO / FWIW / NWGOI)

 

[peterg]

Hmm yes thanks Barry

for the expert(?) advice but I think I'll stick to my method and I don't frequent sites that would require such drastic measures......

 

[JohnR]

Are you trying to suggest that this copy of McAfee that has been lying on my desk for the last few months won't work unless I load it?

 

[lyc]

Depends where you "load it" John

 

[ToMo]

or Trogen!...nm

.

 

[JohnR]

I stuffed it in the coffee cup holder and caught two more copies of X32?Klez.h@MM in two e-mails this morning. I am puzzled 'coz I only use this computer for this forum and amy e-mail address book only contains about 30 names.

 

[lyc]

John you are not sending the virus to yourself from your e-mail addresses but someone else has your e-mail address and if they don't have antivirus software that is up to date and a firewall (I use Zonealarm) they probably don't even know the information is even leaving their computer via their address book.

 

[paul_lomax]

With most email borne viruses you can just reply to whoever sent it and tell them they're infected.

But Klez is a nasty little bugger and spoofs the From address. Basically it looks at all the email addresses stored anywhere on the infected person's PC - in old emails, address books, even in webpages in the temporary internet files. Then it selects 2 emails at random, sends the virus to one of them, making it look like it came from the other random email address. So the person you got them email from probably doesnt have it - but one of his friends might do..

I'm getting dozens a day to webmaster@ipcmedia.com because its on quite a few webpages and hence stored in people's temporary internet files..
Luckily IPC have a decent virus killer built in to the email system!

(I like it when you guys occasionally talk computers - I can talk to you then - I know diddly squat about boats