A new virus!

[choki]

Beware of this new virus W32.Blastor.Worm
This virus will initiate auto-shutdown and affect Microsoft users
Check out Norton Antivirus homepage and if you got the virus, d/l the removal tool.

My laptop was hit by the virus...so I cannot use it now...I can only use my dino

[Dink Meeker]

Thanks for the heads up Choki.

[Mint]

how do u get it? from emails?

[choki]

I don't think it is thru email...I dunno how I go infected too....I just went online and the virus just came thru my broadband connection...
Maybe it hasn't affected America yet...I'm in Singapore by the way

[Marcus Baker]

Haha, my school was hit by it. What you need to do is to go on microsoft.com to get a file, put it on a disk. Then if you get it, press F8 when your thing goes up, and go to safe mode. Run the program and it should work.

[Paul]

This is a bad one.

how do u get it? from emails?

No, from what I understand you just need to be connected to the internet using Windows XP or Window 2000 to get it (Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows NT are also affected).

There's good information about it at: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/av ... .worm.html where you can find a link to the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-026 to download the patch, and also a link to http://securityresponse.symantec.com/av ... .tool.html where you can download a removal tool if you're unlucky enough to already have the virus.

[TDM]

what does the virus do to your computer?

[gecko]

Thanks a bunch! I'm downloading the patch now and I've updated my Norton!

Darn pc's, wish I had a mac upstairs.. but hey I can't sit downstairs on our mac all the time...

[Paul]

what does the virus do to your computer?

Technically, as far as I understand, it'll allow anyone to do basically anything - create or delete files, view anything that is on your computer, run programs etc.

I can't sit downstairs on our mac all the time

No, you may need it if it's raining outside (sorry, bad holly-style joke).

[hoopsmaster88]

i was just going to put those links up but paul beat me to it. nice going paul, so far from what i can tell, the patch works.

[2F2Type_R]

what does the virus do to your computer?

Technically, as far as I understand, it'll allow anyone to do basically anything - create or delete files, view anything that is on your computer, run programs etc.

At the moment, this particular one orders all the infected the computers to crash the Microsoft website. It can cause computers themselves to crash and compromise security settings.

The worm will also try to perform a Denial of Service attack on MS's windows update site to prevent users from protecting against the flaw.

**Umm, just remember to keep your Virus Definitions up-to-date.... and remember to implement firewalls to prevent unauthorized entry to your computer.**

[2F2Type_R]

The worm is building a big name for itself because it easily takes advantage of flaws in Windows... (like most virus =P)

Get youself a Linux build!! heheheh
I'm a tad cynical okay?

Paul, my penguin isn't expressive enough =)

[Mint]

Wait - how do u know that ur computer is infected???

Cause my computer crashes , but its been doing that for years. Not too often though...

[choki]

u can run a search with norton for W32.Blastor.Worm or msblast.exe

it will initiate auto shutdown whenever u surf the net. Countdown starting from 1 min. U can also run shutdown_a to override the shutdown.

Go to symantec for more info

[2F2Type_R]

Wait - how do u know that ur computer is infected???

Cause my computer crashes , but its been doing that for years. Not too often though...

*shrugz* one symptom is your computer is constantly restarting itself