Viruses and Strange E-mail

AVG 7.0

is the Grisoft^™ program we use for virus protection.

            They offer a free version that anyone can use.

It checks e-mail and attachments, both inbound and outbound. It automatically updates itself.  It may show you a message saying "remote administrator" function isn't working properly - that's okay.

Nothing offers 100% protection.  So, please read this page and NEVER open an attachment you weren't expecting.

(not complete)..

How to Make Folders to save E-mails

How to print your E-mail address book

How to Delete Old E-mails (not complete)....

Viruses and Strange E-mail

Warning Signs of Potentially Hazardous E-mail:

• Any attachment from someone you don't know.

• Unexpected attachments from someone you do know.

• Any offer of any kind... even if it looks legitimate with familiar logos.*

• A seemingly returned e-mail that looks like something you sent. 

• Any request to update personal/$ info, even if it looks like something you subscribe to.

• Subject lines with "Re:" but you never sent a note on the subject listed.

The Usual Safe Sources:

• Sometimes mail you send is "bounced back" due to a wrong address or technical problem.  You will see the address you tried to use in the message WITHOUT opening the attachment.  If it is familiar to you, you can open the attachment (which should be the original e-mail you sent) and try to forward it to a new address for that person if you find it.

• Known newsletters and website offers you intentionally subscribed to.

Info. Bits:

• Every time someone clicks on a website generated from spam , it guarantees you will get more spam and spammers in general are encouraged to continue the barrage. Click ads on websites, not e-mails.

• Some e-mails with malicious intent might even look legitimate because they've copied logos and what looks like the web address like this: www.target.com doesn't take you where you expect.  In some cases it looks like the actual website, but it is an attempt to collect marketing data or steal your credit card number.  Be sure to look at the web address in your browser window to make sure you are on the actual website of a store/service you subscribe to.

HOAXES:

Most of the bad comments about a particular company or odd news items or petitions forwarded to you (even from smart people you know) are often FALSE!

Petitions that are forwarded via e-mail are worthless, other than to share a possibly legitimate concern. Meaning, no store or government agency is doing to take a list of names and cities on an e-mail list seriously.  Anyone can fake that.  Only petitions that require you to visit a particular website might be legitimate, but they also might be a sneaky way of getting marketing information about you.

How to Verify a Newsy Rumor

www.snopes.com  is a reliable website dedicated to dispelling Internet/E-mail myths. Go to their site and enter some key words in their search engine.

Example of a Hoax with a Virus Attached

This e-mail we received looks legitimate because it inserts our name and addresses in it.

Definitions

 Source: Kim Komando Newsletter  www.komando.com

VIRUSES, WORMS & TROJAN HORSES

In the computer security world, the terms virus, worm and Trojan horse are thrown around casually. But what are those things?

Here's a guide:

Virus--A malicious pro-gram, usually written to damage the victim's data. Damage can range from irritating messages to de-struction of everything on your hard drive.

Worm--A program that spreads through e-mail. Most worms include their own e-mail program. They find e-mail addresses on your hard drive and send copies of themselves to each.

Trojan horse--A program that secretly piggybacks on another download. It may be malicious, or it may download malicious programs.

A malicious program can have any or all of the characteristics of viruses, worms and Trojan horses. They generally spread as e-mail attachments. The writers try to trick you into opening the attachment, a process called "social engineering." You can get rid of these programs by installing an anti-virus program. Keep it updated through the maker's Web site.

Example of a Virus-laden E-mail That Looks Legitimate
No it is not virus free just because someone typed the words "No Virus found"

(Especially when capitalization is inconsistent!)

Beth wisely forwarded this message to Shane. It looks like it is from Greg Coulter (a General Presbyter). It looks like it has a virus-free document attached.
WRONG on both counts. If Beth had opened the attachment and our virus protection wasn't up to date... a serious "worm" would have spread to most or all of our computers.

It used one of Greg's e-mail addresses, but he didn't knowingly send it.
The attachment to the e-mail below was "improved_synodsun.zip" This is where the virus/worm was embedded in a file called "document.txt"

Example of Supposed Returned Mail
No it is not virus free just because someone typed the words "No Virus found"

Example of Another Method with Same Worm Attached