SOBIG.F Virus Promises Ill Be Back

On 21 August 2003 Symantec Security Response upgraded the W32.SOBIG.F threat to a category 4.

It is the sixth version of this worm.

SOBIG.F follows a computer worm known as "Blaster," or "MSBlaster," which infected at least 500,000 computers all over the world only a week ago. The "Nachi" worm which is designed to protect pcs from "Blaster" caused its own havoc including infiltrating unclassified computers on the Navy-Marine intranet and the collapse of the check-in system of Air Canada.

Associated Press has stated that 1 in 17 emails sent around the world has been infected.

According to Paul Wood of MessageLabs it took anti-virus companies at least 12 hours to release updated software to combat the worm.

W32.Sobig.F@mm is, in fact, a worm, not a virus. This worm sends itself to every email address it finds in files with the following extensions:

• .TXT

• .WAB

• .MHT

• .HTML

• .HTM

• .HLP

• .EML

• .DBX

The "SOBIG" worm is found in emails in your inbox with the following subject headings:

• RE: DETAILS

• RE: THANK YOU!

• RE: YOUR APPLICATION

• RE: YOUR DETAILS

• RE: DETAILS

• RE: APPROVED

• RE: THAT MOVIE

• RE: WICKED SCREENSAVER

I have personally received emails with all of these subject headings on a daily basis. The body of the email simply refers you to an attached file. It is absolutely critical that you DO NOT open this attachment. It is this attachment that contains the "SOBIG" worm.

The "SOBIG" worm is attached to files with the following names:

• Movie0045.pif

• Your_document.pif

• Thank_you.pif

• Document_all.pif

• Details.pif

• Document_9446.pif

• Wicked_scr.scr
  < p>
• Application.pif

The last day on which the "SOBIG" worm will spread is 9 September, 2003. Although this means email address collection and mass-mailing will stop at that date a computer infected with the worm will still try to download updates from master servers even after this date.

The worm affects Windows 95, 98, Me, Nt, 2000 and XP but leaves Unix, OS/2, Windows 3.x, Macintosh and Linux unaffected.

Thankfully Symantec Security Response has created a removal tool which is free to clean an infected computer. To access Symantec's free removal tool visit: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sobig.f@mm.html

< p>For a free virus scan visit: http://www.stop-sign.com

This past month's computer attacks follows a historical trend ? virus activity surges when college students have free time on their hands in the summer.

However, there is a suspicion that these kind of virus attacks may be driven by profit motives because worms such as SOBIG.F place a "trojan horse" on infected drives of unsuspecting pc owners which allows spammers to quickly distribute millions of unsolicited emails around the world.

Poorly designed software is declared the main cause of increased virus activity by computer designers as software is often distributed without appropriate amounts of testing.

Microsoft last year announced its intention to slow down software development so that software can be made more safe from infiltration.

Regardless of the cause, here is the reality:

• Sobig.A was found on January 9 2003 with no expiry.

• Sobig.B was found on May 18, expiring May 31 2003.

• Sobig.C was found on May 31, expiring on June 8 2003.

• Sobig.D was found on June 18, expiring on July 2 2003.

• Sobig.E was found on June 25, expiring on July 14 2003.

• Sobig.F was found on August 19, to expire 10 September 2003.

The spread of the SOBIG.F worm is being hailed the fastest ever.

History, therefore, tells us that Sobig.G is, in fact, just around the corner, faster and stronger than each of its predecessors.

As Sobig.F nears its expiry on 10 September 2003 I can almost envisage its evil grin as it declares, "I'll be back."

About The Author

Copyright 2003. Karin Manning. All Rights Reserved. Karin Manning is the webmistress of http://www.reprintrights4u.com and the publisher of Net Wealth, filled with up to the minute tips and techniques for growing your business online. To subscribe visit http://www.reprintrights4u.com and fill in the Newsletter Popunder on entry.

karin@reprintrights4u.com

---

Cisco CCNA / CCNP Certification: OSPF ASBRs Explained And Illustrated

When I first started studying for my CCNP, some of... Read More

How To Remove One Operating System from a Dual Boot Windows XP Computer

In Windows Xp, you can install two operating systems on... Read More

The Newbies Guide to Personal Computer Maintenance

When you turn on your computer, does it act like... Read More

Things You Can Do To Speed Up Your Computer

Upgrading your processor will always speed up your computer, but... Read More

SmartCar Memory Stick for LapTop Transfer Data

With the new technology used to transfer information to from... Read More

Computer Consulting 101 PC Troubleshooting Advice

While most small businesses really do need to find a... Read More

SOBIG.F Virus Promises Ill Be Back

On 21 August 2003 Symantec Security Response upgraded the W32.SOBIG.F... Read More

The Best MP3 Players Under $100

You don't have to fork out $250 for a super-diggy-whizbang... Read More

Learn the Lost Art of Touch Typing

Computers have replaced typewriters, but two-finger, hunt-and-peck typing can never... Read More

Is Digital Camera Technology Making Film Obsolete?

Perhaps not yet, but the handwriting might be on the... Read More

Your Home is in Your Hands

I would like to tell you about a magic home.... Read More

Virtual Memory - What is It?

I recently got an e-mail asking about virtual memory. The... Read More

Reliable File and Folder Sharing in Windows Xp

This tip is on sharing files and folders on a... Read More

Apache, MySQL & PHP for Windows

Apache, MysQL and PHP for Windows could be a nice... Read More

Best PC Pocket GPS

Stop Getting LostOne of the greatest uses for a pocket... Read More

How To Increase Computer Speed And Performance - Great Tips & Tricks

Many computer users are worried about their computer's performance. After... Read More

Selecting a Personal Digital Assistant

A Computer in Your HandCarrying around an address book and... Read More

Windows Task Manager in English

You use Ctrl+Alt+Del to see what's running on your PC,... Read More

HTML Explained: Part 1

Want to save money while promoting your web-based business? Of... Read More

Is DVD Storage An Attractive Alternative For Your Computer Backup?

If you have a computer for home use or for... Read More

Dont Let the Internet Overstimulate Your Mind

The Internet is an awesome tool, but be careful and... Read More

DVD The Ultimate Consumer Digital Media

Digital Video Disc or as it is sometimes referred to... Read More

Do Higher Digital Camera Prices Mean Better Cameras?

Understanding digital camera prices makes finding the best camera value... Read More

Mail-merging: The Principles

About mail-mergingMail-merging is the process of merging variable data and... Read More

Lives With Games Tradition and Industry

The United States Of America citizen feels that games is... Read More

Build Your Own Computer

I'm eighty-one years old and I bought my first computer... Read More

5 Steps to Remove Spyware for Free

Have you ever tried to remove Spyware off your PC... Read More

Are You Well Protected?

Winter?the official start of the cold and flu season. Though,... Read More

Deleting and Destroying Data Forever

Peoples' private information needs to stay private, even after it... Read More

The Advantages of Portable MP3 Players

With their solid-state technology, compact size, and abundant memory, portable... Read More

More Cool Web Tricks

If you ask most people what frustrates them most about... Read More

Password Nightmares

Good Morning Mr. Sampson. Please type in you Personal Identification... Read More

Home Electronics: The Facts About Plasma TV

Not so many years ago, homes across the country watched... Read More