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HELP => Computer Help Forum => Topic started by: PeteSC on June 11, 2005, 07:51:57 AM

Title: Jacko suicide virus
Post by: PeteSC on June 11, 2005, 07:51:57 AM

Net bug sez Jax tried suicide
 

 

 
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - A dangerous new computer virus masquerading as news that Michael Jackson just tried to commit suicide is landing in E-mail boxes across the world.
In fractured English, the E-mail's misspelled headline, "Re: Suicidal aattempt" opens to an alert that Jackson tried to kill himself at Neverland and left a suicide note. It has a link for more information.

"If you click on the link, the Web site displays a message saying it is too busy, which may not surprise people who think it might contain genuine breaking news about Michael Jackson," said Carole Theriault, security consultant at the British computer firm Sophos. "However, this is a diversionary tactic - because behind the scenes the Web site is downloading malware [similar to a virus] onto the user's computer without their knowledge."

The link downloads a Trojan horse (harmful software) onto the user's computer which allows spammers access to their machine.

"The sick minds behind viruses and other malware often exploit celebrity names and news stories in an attempt to infect as many people as possible,"

 

Title: Jacko suicide virus
Post by: mike on June 11, 2005, 10:48:28 AM

Here's the full story: variants have been around for a while, somebody just used a new email message to distribute it.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2137758/jacko-suicide-note-trojan


Here's the patch that blocks it.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS05-001.mspx

And a removal tool, if you're infected:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx