Here's another timely reminder about the dangers of viruses and spyware. This particular one seems especially nasty because you're dealing with a reputable company that many of us take for granted as being safe. How many sites have you visited that don't have Google Ads?
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A lot of you have your own websites, and you might make a little money off them by using Google's AdSense system. Or you might not, if the computer your page is being delivered to is infected with a Trojan horse that replaces the Google ads with ads of its own.
If you use Microsoft's Instant Messenger, you want to be on the lookout for a new virus, called Virkel. It's disguised as a working beta version of Messenger 8 (which hasn't been publicly released yet). First, it starts sending the download link to everyone on your contact list, and then, it sets your computer up as part of a botnet. Whatever you do, don't install a program called BETA8WEBINSTALL.EXE on your computer.
There's an article about the zero-day Windows Graphics MetaFile exploit that's going around. F-Secure has said that even fully-patched Windows XP SP2 systems are vulnerable, and even Microsoft says that blocking WMF files won't work.
Finally, if you haven't done it yet, make sure your antivirus software is up to date. If you got this newsletter on Wednesday, then you have only two days to protect yourself against the Sober virus, which is scheduled to unleash another round of emails on January 6. Please, I don't need another forty or so emails from the FBI or CIA, so update your computer today.
If you use Microsoft's Instant Messenger, you want to be on the lookout for a new virus, called Virkel. It's disguised as a working beta version of Messenger 8 (which hasn't been publicly released yet). First, it starts sending the download link to everyone on your contact list, and then, it sets your computer up as part of a botnet. Whatever you do, don't install a program called BETA8WEBINSTALL.EXE on your computer.
There's an article about the zero-day Windows Graphics MetaFile exploit that's going around. F-Secure has said that even fully-patched Windows XP SP2 systems are vulnerable, and even Microsoft says that blocking WMF files won't work.
Finally, if you haven't done it yet, make sure your antivirus software is up to date. If you got this newsletter on Wednesday, then you have only two days to protect yourself against the Sober virus, which is scheduled to unleash another round of emails on January 6. Please, I don't need another forty or so emails from the FBI or CIA, so update your computer today.
My thanks again to Experts Exchange for their wonderful emails. If you don't subscribe, then perhaps you should. You'll get all sorts of interesting info delivered to your inbox. Alternately, you can read about the latest news on the Community News page.
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