Virus Advice from my IT Center

[John Walton]

As so often with these warnings, Mac users can ignore the contents of this
message. 

This message contains information on a new virus and an old problem
to do with Internet Explorer. It also tells you how to get the latest
F-Secure signature strings if you are unable to download them from the
network.

BadTrans.B virus
----------------
A serious virus (BadTrans.b) has been received by numerous users in the
University.  It is particularly damaging because (a) under some
circumstances it can make use of a fault in MS Internet Explorer to launch
the infected attachment automatically, and (b) part of its action is to
keep a log of your keystrokes and mail it off to the originators of the
virus. 

For further details see the following web page:

   http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/ITS/faq/virus/badtrans.html

To protect yourself from this virus you should update your virus signature
strings at once. If you updated your signature strings last week, your
anti-virus software will not detect this virus. If you use F-Secure
Anti-Virus, please see the following Web page for instructions on updating
your signature strings:

   http://www.st-and.ac.uk/ITS/faq/virus/fsupd/sigs.html


Internet Explorer vulnerability
-------------------------------
If you have not already done so you should also install the security patch
for Internet Explorer, referred to in earlier messages.  See the following
web page for more detailed advice:

   http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/ITS/faq/virus/ie5.html

Further information
-------------------
All the web pages referred to in this message can be reached by following
the link to "Virus information" on the IT Services web page, which you can
find in the "Quicklinks" box on the University home page.
 
Please contact the Helpdesk for advice if the information on these web
pages leaves you in any doubt as to what you should do about all this.


Signature strings on CD
-----------------------
For those with non-networked PCs, copies of the latest signature strings
can be obtained on CD from the IT Services Helpdesk for the price of the
CD (60 pence).  To save waiting time at the Helpdesk, it is probably worth
letting us know in advance when you expect to come to collect your copy.
(phone 3333 or e-mail to "helpdesk")

I apologise for the bad news contained in this message.  Please do not
ignore it.




____________________________________________

"A program is a spell cast over a computer, turning input into error
messages." --Anon

John Walton -- john at walton.vu
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