posted on August 4, 2001 08:50:49 AM
In the last few days we were sent the "hi how are you" ( with attachment)virus four times. When you send and receive messages this message take a long time to come into the system. Of course, we have not opened the attachments and blocked the sender from the server. The other form states that there is "Tax information enclosed" (with attachment) so please be careful. Do not open any attachments when you do not know the author of the message well.
I was wondering how many other sellers had this experience? Four times in three days seems quite a lot to me. I don't know how else they would get our e-mail address other than E-Bay.
posted on August 4, 2001 08:57:03 AM
I have been getting this message for over two weeks. There are different variations, different subject line, and different senders, but its always the same E-mail. Some days I get it 6 times.
posted on August 4, 2001 09:36:49 AM
I got 6 of these in my mailbox the other day. Thankfully the virus maker did not make it very enticing to even think about opening the file.
posted on August 4, 2001 09:52:44 AM
I don't think that ebay sellers are targeted, as most viruses are spread unknowingly. But once it hits a few ebay memebers, it goes thru the "community" quickly. Why? Who sends and receives more emails than a active ebayer?
posted on August 4, 2001 09:58:50 AMDo not open any attachments when you do not know the author of the message well.
I would advise NOT to open ANY attachment even IF you know the author well. The Sircam virus has it's own SMTP which means it's happily emailing addresses it finds on your PC w/o your knowledge. And it's merrily picking & choosing which files to "attach".
After my PC was attacked, it emailed my customers, my family, my friends. Unfortunately, because they knew me, some opened it. Mercifully, most were not seriously harmed.
For a while, I'm not going to open ANY attachments, I don't care WHO they come from. This virus is devious, especially in picking out info to attach which may look legit.
And it can attach to ANY kind of file, exe, jpg, pif, etc.
posted on August 4, 2001 10:10:52 AM
I've been receiving it numerous times daily for the last few weeks. Norton stops it on the way into the mail program and asks how you'd like to dispose of it, as it does with all viruses, worth getting.
posted on August 4, 2001 10:59:23 AM
Recently, I received an email from someone (that I knew) that was requesting
my "help" or "advice" with an attached file. Being the helpful person that I
am, and also against my better judgment, I opened the file attachment. My
computer was at that point affected by the w32.sircam.worm virus. The person
that sent me the file indicated she did not send me the file directly, but
that the file was "automatically" sent to all addresses in her address book
(person uses Microsoft Outlook as the email source).
This virus attacked all of the executable (exe.) files on my PC's hard drive
virtually rendering all installed programs unavailable. The Microsoft
"Installer" program was also disabled by the virus meaning that I could not
"reinstall" the disabled programs. FYI: Windows 2000me would not reinstall
either.
Pursuant to Symantec's information on the w32.sircam.worm virus, this virus
is activated in several ways, i.e., file deletion, and as in my case, when I
quarantined the file. Symantec also reports that the file has an October 16,
2001 activation date meaning that if untouched, the virus will become
"active" on 10/16.
Listed below is the Symantec download for the fix to the w32.sircam.worm
virus.
posted on August 4, 2001 11:31:58 AM
The virus did not follow a Pay Pal Payment notice. I thought it strange that we would get it so many days in a row. I will have to have people fax me what they would normally put in an attachment. I know all of our businesses would be seriously affected if we did get one of these viruses. I was surprised how many different forms that it comes in. I will have to notify my friend who is is brand new to computers and will open any attachment from anyone.
It is true that sellers get a ton of e-mail a day. At least I use to before the end of July. It has been a bit slow lately.
posted on August 4, 2001 07:03:13 PM
SirCam actually goes through more than your address book searching for email addresses, it goes through cached files looking for them...so if they've viewed a website that has your email address in it, and it's still cached, it'll get sent to you.
I've received 5 copies of it. 3 to one account that I have mentioned on my website, and 2 to another that is mentioned in only one site. I had heard of neither person.
Always keep a few things in mind when it comes to attachments:
1. Never open an attachment from someone you don't recognize.
2. If you do recognize them, run a scan on the file first (and make sure that your software is updated regularly).
3. If the file extentions look weird (like sircam's ended with .bat, .pif, etc) alarms should go off in your head.
-M.
-------------------
Time is an illusion perpetrated by the manufacturers of space.
posted on August 4, 2001 07:10:34 PM
I don't open attachements from ANYONE...not my sister, my friends...NO ONE! I got hit by a worm a few months ago and I've learned my lesson. It's no fun.
posted on August 5, 2001 12:42:48 AM
There will be some interesting Indictments if a Hacker/Virus/Worm creator is caught. With the proliferation of Medical Usages and Patient Dependence on Computers and the Web, Legal Experts are suggesting Capital Charges are appropriate in Wilful and Malicious Intent to Sabotage Programs, Computers and the Internet. This is without consideration of the Violations of National Security and Military matters. Light in the Cranium I'd say.
posted on August 5, 2001 08:59:12 AM
I've received the email several times in the past two weeks, even from people I am familiar with so I assume they do not even know they are doing it. Fortunately, my ISP intercepts email with viruses, stops them, and notifies me. They all appear to have the same wording: "Hi, I need your advice......please open the attachment". or something of that nature.
Having been a victim in the past, I feel lucky my ISP intercepts these messages, or I wouldn't be responding to this. LOL
posted on August 6, 2001 09:20:22 AM
For the past few days I have gotten over a dozen email from a .org return address with no text, just 2 attachments. The attachments say something like Yad L' Yad File and, of cource, I didn't open them and deleted them.
I then had a good friend help me put up an email filters so that this email will automatrically delete. It is still coming but now it can't enter my mailbox. I never open attachments unless I am told exactly what it is in the text of the email AND I know the sender. This virus email also enters your email very slow. I don't remember if it had a subject line but it had a return address of [email protected].
I hope this helps someone.
Update your virus software and use a few common sense email practices and you should be fine.
I can't help but wonder about the kind of person who would start and spread one of these things.
posted on August 6, 2001 09:39:41 AM
I keep getting it sent from the same strange email address that is not even an address, just some sort of symbol. If you look at the properties of this email it looks like it came from Mexico as the extension is mx. Last week it kept coming 3 or 4 times on a daily basis from some TV station in Illinois which I was able to track down and I sent an email to their business office telling them about it. I've not received any from that address since then. I'm sure they didn't know it was being attached to email addresses. I have the very latest Norton SystemWorks and it doesn't stop the email, but I'm sure if you tried to open the attachment (who would want to?) it would catch it. It is upsetting because it takes so long to download because of the attachment. Hope it stops soon as it is beginning to make me ill tempered.
posted on August 7, 2001 06:11:38 AM
I was reading this thread yesterday and had heard about these emails, but hadn't received one. Until now.
I received two of these emails yesterday evening and then another six were waiting for me this morning. I handle another person's auctions and under their email address there were four of these emails this morning. They are all from the same sender and they all have different subject lines. They all say basically "Hi, how are you? I am sending you this file for your advice" BUT there is never a file attached.
I realize the attached file seems to be the problem but has anybody else been getting these emails WITHOUT the attached file and am I doing any damage if I open the email itself?
