===================
Avoiding and repairing the "Klez" virus
===================
Once again, a rather nasty virus that spreads via email has popped up.
This time, the culprit is known as "Klez" -- and it's Unlike most
previous email-borne viruses, Klez does NOT need you to open an email
attachment -- simply previewing the message in Outlook or Outlook
Express can sometimes infect your system.
WHO IS AT RISK
---------------
According to Microsoft, computers with these programs *may* be
vulnerable:
-- Internet Explorer 5.01 (unless you have Service Pack 2)
-- Internet Explorer 5.5
-- Internet Explorer 6 (but only if you still have Outlook Express 5)
-- Outlook 97/98/2000 (but not Outlook 2002)
If you're running Windows XP or have Mac, you're safe. If you're
running Outlook 2002, you're probably immune to infection via email, but
could get infected by someone over your LAN.
REMOVING KLEZ
----------------
Symantec has an easy-to-use and effective tool for removing Klez from
your system. Don't worry -- Klez doesn't destroy data, so if you run
the fix, you'll be as good as new. Find the "FixKlez" tool and complete
instructions at:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.klez.removal.too
l.html
Once you've removed Klez, you should reinstall your antivirus software,
and follow the directions below to tighten up your system to prevent
viruses.
PREVENTING KLEZ (AND OTHER VIRUSES)
------------------
Even if you haven't been hit by Klez, it's extremely important that you
take the following steps to secure your machine against email-borne
viruses. Here's what you should do:
1) Install and run up-to-date virus protection software.
2) Disable or uninstall the Windows Scripting Host
3) Make file extensions visible
4) Disable scripts running from within email messages
5) Run Windows Update to apply all current security fixes.
For information on all of these items, see our Web site at:
http://www.onenw.org/bin/page.cfm?pageid=14
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Wed May 22 2002 - 15:54:12 CEST