March 31, 2003
Forged spam virus
Apparently some jackasses are spamming the net with messsages containing a virus masquerading as a screensaver. To make matters worse they're now forging other people's mailing addresses. So it might look like a message coming from someone you know.
If you get a message and it contains a file with .scr in it DO NOT OPEN IT.
It might be fair to say you should generally /avoid/ using mail with attachments. If want someone to see a file, picture or something that's available on the web, don't send them the whole FILE as an attachment. Just send them a link to the website.
Meanwhile, as you get mail from people take a look at the size of the incoming message. Most of the time viruses will be much larger than a normal text message. Don't even bother to open those messages, just delete them. If you're not expecting someone to be sending you attachments then don't risk opening viruses. Send them a message asking if they meant to send you a big file attachment. There is, of course, the chance they meant to do this.
If you get a message that's been forged, forward it to the abuse departments of the ISPs involved. These spammers hop on the net from various places. Those are listed in the headers of the message. It takes some geek wizardry to open the headers, read them and find the source IP address. But with that you can do a traceroute (or tracert for you Windows folks) and see the path to the source IP address. Look for the ISPs directly 'upstream' from the source address. Visit the ISP website or send mail to 'abuse@' the ISP domain.
Slowly but surely someone will pin down who and where these jackasses are. I, for one, suggest tar and feathering. Or flogging perhaps. Those near maritime areas could perhaps keelhaul them. Speaking of which, when does Talk like Pirate Day come around again? Arrrrrrr......
