Keep those virus definitions updated
By MIKE BERMAN
Scripps Howard News Service
January 21, 2004

It looked innocent enough.

It was a message, probably from some lonely, innocent soul, that just said "Hi". Little did I know that it was yet another attempt to invade my computer by some dark-hearted fiend with what is now known as the W32.Beagle.A(at)mm worm.

According to the folks at Symantec, this scourge "is a mass-mailing worm that will only work until the 28th of January. This worm will insert several files and registry keys on the system. It will access remote websites, and email all contacts it can find. W32.Beagle.(at)mm will also direct the compromised system to download and execute a Trojan horse. The purpose of this Trojan horse is unknown at this time.

"The emails sent by this worm will have the following characteristics:

Subject: Hi

Message:

Test =)

-

Test, yep.

Filename: .exe

Filesize: 16Kbytes"

Makes you feel all sorts of warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it? Just to think that someone went to all that trouble to make your life miserable, just to have it blocked and cast aside by up-to-date virus protection you were wise enough to install - and keep active - on your system.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of keeping your virus protection current, no matter what software you use. Even if you have an older version of antivirus software from Symantec, McAfee or any other manufacturer, it only takes a few minutes to download current virus definitions to send these demons to the pits of Hell, where they belong.

Symantec uses LiveUpdate, which is a fee-based service to keep your computer virus free. The subscription is free for the first year you own one of the company's products, such as Norton AntiVirus or SystemWorks. Then, to keep it active, you pay a modest yearly fee (about $30).

Hopefully you'll never have to deal with any of these viral threats, but the Boy Scouts knew what they were talking about when they established their motto of "Be Prepared."

More information on this new threat, other viruses and Internet scams can be found at www.symantec.com.

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