New dangerous Virus Warning.

[unfrufru]

Please take note of the below. this is confirmed. IT WILL REMOVE ALL WORD,EXCEL,PDF & POWERPOINT FILES FROM YOUR COMPUTER.

The countdown is on for a new virus called Nyxem which on February 3 is expected to unleash a nasty surprise for many PC users in Australia.
The virus affects users of all versions of the Windows operating system and is now spreading around the world via emails touting adult-related material.

On February 3 the virus will be activated to destroy a wide range of files including Word, Powerpoint, Excel and Acrobat on infected machines.

If it is not removed, it will attack again on the third day of each month going forward, according to a Microsoft blog.

The virus, which goes under a number of names including Blackmal, Kama Sutra and MyWife, was first detected on January 16.

Computer emergency response team AusCERT has been tracking its frequency in Australia and is warning computer users to batten down the hatches.

"We expect a good number of Australians to be affected based on the high instance of the virus appearing in our filters," said MacLeonard Starkey, an Auscert security analyst.

AusCERT advises applying strong passwords to all user accounts, updated anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, and the use of a firewall.

"One of the best ways of avoiding the virus is to operate a PC under a limited account rather than administrator account because this means the malware doesn't have access to the privileges needed to spread and execute," said Mr Starkey.

Also tracking the frequency of the virus is a website set up by its creator to display the total of infections worldwide via a counter.

As soon as the virus spreads to a new computer, it reports back to the counter, which is now registering millions of hits. However Auscert said it was likely that some unprotected computers were being hit more than once, creating a false total.

It has warned PC users against attempting to locate the virus counter site. "The same site could be used to distribute other pieces of malware," Mr Starkey said.

Sample of virus email subject field phrases
crazy illegal sex
real show
give me a kiss
school girl fantasies gone bad
Funny
My photos

[Mythor]

AusCERT update notice.

There's worse out there, though.

Where'd you get that notice from unfrufru? Because it doesn't even tell you how to actually avoid being infected. Strong passwords, updated anti-virus/spyware protection and a firewall are all excellent suggestions in a general sense.

Pity it spreads by idiots opening email attachments, as usual. And they don't say a damn thing about that...

[Laney]

i think that's the article from the sydney morning herald who were making a big song and dance out of it.

[Mythor]

Yep, the article is at this link.

[unfrufru]

yeah i sent it to our IT dude to see if it was real and he emailed it around to say it was.

[Renee_Turner]

You mean there's actually a guy called MacLeonard Starkey? Poor fella.