Virus Alert
Subject: VIRUS ALERT
To: All Campus Members: Faculty, Staff and Students
From: Steve Hess, Assoc VP for Information Technology
Date: March 3, 2004
A particularly nasty virus is spreading across the Internet.
This virus sends an email from what appears to be an official University of Utah source, using a utah.edu address. Examples include:
- management@utah.edu
- administration@utah.edu
- staff@utah.edu
- noreply@utah.edu
- support@utah.edu
The email then uses different pretenses to entice you to open an attachment using a password provided within the message. Opening the attachment launches the virus.
DO NOT open the attachment !
The infected email may have subject lines including:
- E-mail account disabling warning.
- E-mail account security warning.
- Email account utilization warning.
- Important notify about your e-mail account.
- Notify about using the e-mail account.
- Notify about your e-mail account utilization.
- Warning about your e-mail account.
The spread of malicious viruses and worms will continue. Always follow these rules to protect yourself and others.
- Install and regularly update anti-virus software on your PC.
- Do NOT open email from untrusted sources.
- Do NOT open email attachments from anyone unless you are convinced they are authentic.
- Absolutely do NOT open attachments that end with .exe. These files run programs that can launch viruses and worms.
- Do not install or run any software unless it comes from a trusted source.
- Make sure your operating system and applications are current with all security patches.
A virus can have significant consequences, such as:
- exposure or release of your private sensitive information
- introduction of "spyware" that may monitor your activity
- deletion of important documents and damage to the PC
- crippling networks by flooding them with worthless email
- launching attacks on other PCs and websites
- opening backdoor access to your computer allowing other people full control and access of your system
Students may download anti-virus software at no charge from the
University Office of Software Licensing at http://www.osl.utah.edu/.
