This is a repost of one of the emails to the CS list last year, some pretty good information. Saved it in case of emergency. suzy
In a message dated 10/26/00 6:26:14 PM Central Daylight Time, t...@home.com writes: > I looked at the virus info. The danger is spotted in the filenames > EXTension! > > Let's look at the filename itself. It is a dead giveaway that it > contains a sort-of virus. > > JIMI_HMNDRIX . MP3 . pif > ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ > FILENAME EXT EXT > > Note the SECOND file extension is PIF. PIF goes back to the old Windows > 3.1. Using Object Packer to create a PIF file, one could make the PIF do > > all kinds of very useful things, and bad things. In this case, the PIF > file renames DLL files which arev reported as having a viurs. Without > reading through the exact code of the PIF, it's hard to tell if in fact > there is an actual virus embeded into the PIF or whether the PIF simply > renames the DLL files. > > In any event, users who receive file attachments should look at the file > > extensions. If it ends in PIF, simply delete it. I would also be wary of > > any filename that has more than one extension. For example: > > FILENAME.DOC.EXE > FILENAME.GIF.EXE > FILENAME.DOC.COM > > or, any file with more than one extension. > > Many users don't even see their file extensions. With Windows installed > at the factory/retailer, the default is to hide file extensions from the > > viewer. Users should turn this on. To do so: > > [1]- Open "My Computer" > [2]- Click the "View" tab > [3]- Select "Folder Options" > [3]- Click "View" tab. > [4]- UNcheck "Hide file extensions for known file types". > [5]- Done. Now users can see the file extensions, all of them. > > Some users, using Microsofts Outlook Express are the most vunerable. > Most of the recent viruses attack through the many Outlook Express > system security holes. I suggest that anyone using Internet Explorer > and/or Outlook Express invest in McAfee or Norton anti-virus tools. > These when used at their full capacity will slow down your computer a > tad, but add some safe 'netting. > > I suggest you edit, copy, paste, and this to your List. > > Jim > > > >
