Updated: 25 August 2001

Email viruses hit Chebucto users

Windows 2000 and Windows NT users are vulnerable to the Code Red and Code Red II worms. There is a software patch that protects these users from these worms and instructions for applying the software patch here:

http://microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/security/topics/codealrt.asp

Another worm, this time affecting Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express users is the W32/SirCam worm, which copies a random file from a Windows user's My Documents folder then mails the file and itself to addresses it finds in Windows address books used by Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express or in web pages cached by Internet Explorer. Emails will have a random subject line and the message text will commonly say:

Hi! How are you?
I send you this file in order to have your advice
See you later. Thanks

This text can vary, or be in Spanish.

Chebucto text users are immune from this virus unless they download and open the attached file. Graphical access users are strongly advised to not open attachments without checking them with a good anti-virus program with virus definitions updated no earlier than mid-July 2001. Since this message can come from a trusted friend who does not know they are infected, ALL attachments should be virus scanned. Under no circumstances should your email program be set to open attachments automatically. Users of graphical email clients other than Outlook or Outlook Express are not immune from this virus.

More information on this virus is here:

http://www.antivirus.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=TROJ_SIRCAM.A and here:

http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/sircam.shtml

Yet another virus is contained in a letter about fairy tale character Snow White, again targets Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express users and as with the first virus, Chebucto text users cannot become infected unless they download and run the attachment. Graphical access users should virus scan ALL attached files regardless of the source before opening them. Under no circumstances should your email program be set to open attachments automatically. Users of graphical email clients other than Outlook or Outlook Express are not immune from this virus.

Typically a letter will arrive from the fake address hahaha@sexyfun.net with a short story about Snow White turning 18 and the Seven Dwarves giving her some kind of naughty surprise, which is presumably contained in the attached file. The file can have many names, such as midgets.scr, or dwarf4you.exe or joke.exe, among others. The attachment is actually the Hybris W95 worm and will send copies of the Snow White letter to any addresses that pass through your internet connection, whether from web pages you have viewed or letters you have sent out. The Snow White letter can come in many different languages.

More information is here:

http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/hybris.shtml and here:

http://www.kaspersky.com/news.asp?tnews=0&nview=1&id=134&page=0

The Chebucto Community Net strongly recommends that all Chebucto Plus users have anti-virus software and that they keep their virus definitions updated frequently, no less than once a month.

An excellent source of information is Chebucto UserHelp Team Leader Norman De Forest's Anti-Virus page, which includes links to more information and help in fixing an infected computer:

http://chebucto.ca/~af380/antivirus.html

Chebucto User and Neighbourhood Account
Agreements to be updated

Rephrased Clause 2

Use of CCN, its services and privileges may be suspended, restricted or removed by CCN, without notice, for any activity which CCN, in its sole discretion considers to be a violation of the letter or spirit of this Agreement or for any other reason that CCN may consider to be compelling.

New Clause 8
(Clauses 8 - 13 become 9 - 14)

CCN reserves the right to screen incoming and outgoing mail and/or data for files containing computer viruses, trojan horse programs, worms or other data in any form designed to disrupt the operation or function of computer systems. CCN reserves the right to screen incoming or outgoing mail for unsolicited bulk and/or commercial email. CCN is under no obligation to screen incoming or outgoing mail and/or data and will not be responsible for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages sustained in relation to any screening or failure to screen incoming or outgoing mail and/or data.

The new clauses are designed to help Chebucto cope with new viruses and new virus infection patterns in a speedier manner in the future. The present Chebucto User Agreement can be found here and the present Neighbourhood Account Agreement can be found here. Questions or concerns about these new clauses, which will be voted upon at the next Chebucto Board meeting, August 28, 2001, may be sent to
CCN Policy Committee <ccn-pic@chebucto.ns.ca>

Chebucto Vice Chair Resigns

A powerhouse of an organizer, when you could catch him as he whizzed past, James' ready wit and sense of fair play will be missed.

Outlook user email advisory

Windows Users can find a selection of email programs available for download here and Macintosh users can find a selection of email programs here.

New Chebucto By-Laws now in effect

Chebucto gets a new domain name!

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