Minnesota

Think your friend sent you a virus?
Misty See my TER Reviews 8783 reads
posted
1 / 3

It's probably the Klez worm or another version and it copies address books then sends the virus to others with your email address even though you have no virus.

ie: John Doe emails 5 ladies.  He now has all 5 ladies in his address book.  John Doe gets an email and downloads the virus thinking it's from a friend.  Immediately this virus copies his address book and sends the virus to each person in his address book with new email address making you think someone different just sent you a virus.  

Make sense?  

"The worm has the ability to spoof the From: field (often set to an address found on the victim's machine)"

So... if you're receiving emails from friends, this does not mean they have a virus on their machine and it certainly doesn't mean that friend sent you a virus.

For more info, go read about the Klez worm on your antivirus software site.

I use McAfee, but there are others around.

Download a free anti virus program and test your system for virus.  I run my anti virus (McAfee) in the background continually along with a firewall (McAfee) and encryption (PGP).  Not a bad idea if you're worried about who might get or have access to your system.

Good Luck
Misty

seeker234 6 Reviews 9042 reads
posted
2 / 3

Actually in addition to the address book most newer viruses including Klez will search your hard drive for e-mail addresses.  They harvest them from cached web pages and any other document that they can read that contains e-mail addresses.  This is why you can still receive virus infected mail and be spoofed as a sender even if your not on anyone's address book.  Stay safe, don't open it if your not expecting it and visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and ensure you have all critical updates installed.

bd96 5 Reviews 11224 reads
posted
3 / 3
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