-----Original Message----- From: NIPC Watch [mailto:nipc.watch@private] Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 7:24 AM To: Cyber Threats Subject: [Cyber_threats] Daily News 12/23/02 December 19, CNN - E-card virus warning for the holidays. Sophisticated computer viruses are hiding behind some Christmas e-cards, wrecking the season of goodwill, analysts warn. London-based watchdog Message Labs identified a new virus called Yaha on December 13. Meanwhile new versions of the existing Trojan, Bride B and Happy 99 viruses are also spreading in the Christmas boom. While many e-card sites are legitimate and fun, some online Christmas cards are used as smoke screens, says Alex Shipp of Message Labs. "First they will remove your anti-virus program so that you do not know they are there, then they do all sorts of nasty things like mailing out your address book so that your friends will be affected." As well as spreading irritating e-mail, viruses can be more menacing, opening up your PC to hackers. This can expose your credit card details, financial records and personal information. They can delete files, track every Web site you visit and even go shopping online without you knowing. Simon Williams of London-based communications firm Band and Brown says it is easy to be caught out by e-cards. "It looks like your software is being used legitimately, but when you open up the form you are consenting to distribute the virus." Source. http://europe.cnn.com/2002/TECH/12/17/ecard.virus/index.html _______________________________________________ Cyber_Threats mailing list Cyber_Threats@listserv http://listserv.infragard.org/mailman/listinfo/cyber_threats
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