Emergency Virus Alert Edition 

The Problem

We have produced this special edition of The Information Age due to a recent epidemic of infected computers by a series of new and damaging viruses.  The most wide spread virus lately is called the — W32/SirCam@mm (Sir Cam Virus) or W32.Sircam.Worm@mm.  This virus or worm is very tricky because it gets transmitted in an email from someone you know.  The message reads as follows:

Subject: [filename (random)] Body: [content varies]

---ENGLISH VERSION---

Hi! How are you?

I send you this file in order to have your advice or I hope you can help me with this file that I send or I hope you like the file that I sendo you or This is the file with the information that you ask for

See you later. Thanks

---SPANISH VERSION---

Hola como estas ?

Te mando este archivo para que me des tu punto de vista or Espero me puedas ayudar con el archivo que te mando or Espero te guste este archivo que te mando or Este es el archivo con la información que me pediste

Nos vemos pronto, gracias.

This email will have an attachment with it that has a familiar file extension (ending) such as ".doc" or ".jpg" or others, and then an additional ending that could be ".ink" or .pif" or several others.  This insidious virus, becomes harmful only if you open the attachment.  The virus then gets into your email program's mailing list, and sends a random file from your computer to everyone on your email program list.  It does this with a replication of itself attached so that if the people on your list get the infected email and open it the cycle starts over again on their computer.  The additional dangers are that it may cause computer damage later. Additionally, the ever increasing number of computers infected are clogging the internet with millions of these infected emails.

 

What Do you Do If You Receive One Of These Emails?

If you get an email from someone who you know that has the above text and an attachment you believe is infected here is what you should do. 

  1. If you have opened the email but not the attachment file you should be OK. Opening the email alone will not create the problem.  Do Not open the attachment.
  2. With the email opened or with it highlighted in your email list, hold down the shift key and either hit the delete button or use your mouse to hit the delete selection. This permanently deletes it from your computer.  Only hitting the delete button will send the email to your delete folder where it can be mistakenly opened in the future.  If you have already sent it to your delete folder, you can still get rid of it by emptying the delete folder which permanently erases it.
  3. Email your friend with a new email, (do not hit return) to let them know they have been infected.

 

How Do I Fix This Problem If My Computer Is Infected?

If you are not sure if you have been infected you can check you email program's "sent" folder. If you have sent out a bunch of these infected emails then you should see them in your own list of emails in your sent folder.  You can also check for this infection by running the most current version of a virus software program.  Most of these programs have free download update pages on their web sites for people who have recently purchased their software.  By staying current with the latest releases of their software, you have the best chance of being protected.

If you have been infected get help from the professionals!  The two companies that are on top of this situation and have consumer products and fixes are "Symantec", makers of Norton Anti Virus, and "McAfee" a large virus and security company.  Both of these companies are aware of the problem and have posted pages to help fix the problem.  If you have been infected please visit one of the links below which are set to the pages from these companies that deal with this problem.

Symantec / Norton: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.removal.tool.html 

McAfee: http://dispatch.mcafee.com/dispatches/sir_cam/ 

 

Computer Safely!

The best way to avoid these types of problems is to be aware of the potential for problems.  My best suggestion is to view our February 2001 Information Age edition which can be viewed at this following link.  http://www.braile.net/TIA2001February.htm 

We at Now You Know want to use the Internet to spread the message of chiropractic worldwide.  Computer viruses such as these are like subluxations over the Internet.  We need to get them adjusted to free up the communications pathways!  Feel free to pass this "virus free" edition of the Information Age on to others who need to know.

 

This message was sponsored as a public service for chiropractors and chiropractic supporters by Now You Know Inc. Now you Know is an Internet service company servicing the chiropractic profession with tools designed to help spread the message of chiropractic world-wide.

www.nowyouknow.net

www.echiropractic.net