Logan
09-11-2003, 7:30 AM
Two new computer worms on the prowl
07:20 AM PDT on Thursday, September 11, 2003
By AUSTIN JENKINS / KING 5 News
SEATTLE - Just in time for the second Sept. 11 anniversary, a pair of email viruses is expected to be making the rounds.
Computer experts say these new worms are not as bad as the recent SoBig and Blaster worms, but they do have the potential to disrupt email and perhaps even crash your computer.
The first comes with the subject line: "It's near 911" and an attachment named 911.jpg.
That's the virus. Don't open it.
KING
A computer virus sent as an attachment makes its round via email.
The second worm to look out for is called Blurt or Quarters. You'll get an email with a subject line that has the word account in it like, "your account has been suspended." The body of the email will read something like, "please can you check that your account information is up to date." And there will be an attachment of some sort.
Again, don't open the attachment.
"The emotional feelings that you're going to see and feel around 9/11 may trigger you to open this email when you should be thinking about being more cautious," said Andy Shirey, of Seanet Corp.
"It seems a bit more sinister in what it does because it will recruit your computer to be part of a DOS attack on a government Web site back in the U.K.," Shirey said.
Experts say the best protection against computer worms and viruses is to use an internet firewall, download any computer updates or patches that are made available. And use up to date anti-virus software.
07:20 AM PDT on Thursday, September 11, 2003
By AUSTIN JENKINS / KING 5 News
SEATTLE - Just in time for the second Sept. 11 anniversary, a pair of email viruses is expected to be making the rounds.
Computer experts say these new worms are not as bad as the recent SoBig and Blaster worms, but they do have the potential to disrupt email and perhaps even crash your computer.
The first comes with the subject line: "It's near 911" and an attachment named 911.jpg.
That's the virus. Don't open it.
KING
A computer virus sent as an attachment makes its round via email.
The second worm to look out for is called Blurt or Quarters. You'll get an email with a subject line that has the word account in it like, "your account has been suspended." The body of the email will read something like, "please can you check that your account information is up to date." And there will be an attachment of some sort.
Again, don't open the attachment.
"The emotional feelings that you're going to see and feel around 9/11 may trigger you to open this email when you should be thinking about being more cautious," said Andy Shirey, of Seanet Corp.
"It seems a bit more sinister in what it does because it will recruit your computer to be part of a DOS attack on a government Web site back in the U.K.," Shirey said.
Experts say the best protection against computer worms and viruses is to use an internet firewall, download any computer updates or patches that are made available. And use up to date anti-virus software.