New Virus starting to run wild


They were addressed as "Happy New Year" and contained the following virus: W32.Maldal.C@mm

Be alert, as i typically see virus' at the very beginning of when they start to REALLY get into circulation. I know that this one has been floating around for about a week now, but receiving four of them in one day tells me that Maldal is now "on the loose".

You might want to drop by the link below. It is Symantec / Norton and fills you in on the various virus' that they have recently detected. If you have a virus scanner, you REALLY do need to update it QUITE often. It almost seems as if there are new virus' every two or three days now. Updating your version of "Windows" on a regular basis is also HIGHLY recommended.

If you don't have a virus scanner, you can look at the most recent batch of released information every once in a while under their individual names. In the section labeled "distribution", you can find out the BASIC name that is typically shown in the Email subject line. Keep in mind that some of these virus actually "morph" as they evolve and can change things to better hide themselves. This will at least tell you what to avoid and make you more aware of what is currently circulating. The bottom line is that you HAVE to be cautious nowadays.

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/vinfodb.html
sean

Showing 2 responses by ed_sawyer

a couple quick points, as this isnt' the forum to prove superiority of macs, but:

1) Virii are simply not an option on Macs, not due to user base, but operating system holes. Simply put there are far far fewer in Mac OS vs. Windoze.

2) Given that OS X is unix-based, and that Unix is the OS of choice for power users/servers/most serious computers since 1970 or so, I don't think software will ever be an issue. Need something you don't have? simply recompile it and run it.

2a.) Given that Unix has as many security holes as most MS stuff, you will have to watch out a lot more than before if using a Mac. Of course, the better OS support and the fact that everyone has the holes figured out by now, makes it more of a moot point.

A tangent: most of the so-called redbook CD 'encryption' issues are only a problem on PCs.

fwiw,

-Ed