Internet Infection Hits Thousands Of Computers
Blaster Worm Mysteriously Shuts Down Users' Computers
POSTED: 6:47 a.m. EDT August 12, 2003
UPDATED: 7:57 p.m. EDT August 12, 2003
Researchers say more than 100,000 computers have been hit by a virus-like infection.
It's being called "LovSan" or "Blaster."
The outbreak of the computer virus-like infection prompted government and industry warnings Monday. The virus spread
rapidly across the Internet, causing computers to mysteriously restart and coordinate an electronic attack against a Microsoft.
Security experts say the infection exploited an unusually dangerous flaw in Windows software.
The infection left a note behind on vulnerable computers that read "I just want to say LOVE YOU SAN!" A second message taunting
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates stated "billy gates why do you make this possible? Stop making money and fix your software!"
Researchers reported tens of thousands of infected computers inside universities, businesses, city governments and homes. Infected computers were programmed to automatically launch an attack on a Web site operated by Microsoft on Saturday.
Security experts say the infection isn't seriously disrupting Internet traffic but poses that risk as it spreads.
Government and industry experts have anticipated such an outbreak since July 16, when Microsoft acknowledged the flaw
affected nearly all versions of its Windows operating system software.
Microsoft offers a free patch on its Web site
to protect Windows users vulnerable to infections because of a program flaw.
Antivirus company Symantec has developed a tool to clean a computer that has been infected by the worm.
If you cannot access the Internet or even start up your computer without it mysteriously rebooting every minute, you will need to have a friend print out these step-by-step instructions to remove the virus from your computer.
The Microsoft flaw affects Windows technology used to share data files across computer networks. It involves a category of
vulnerability known as "buffer overflows," which can trick software into accepting dangerous commands.
The one saving grace about the MSBLASTER worm is that it does not spread by e-mail and does not distribute itself to everyone in your e-mail address book. Through the Internet, the worm stealthily attaches itself to computers that have not installed a patch for the Windows flaw.
Experts say home PC users are most vulnerable since many people don't normally install security patches. Computers running Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows Server 2003 operating systems are the ones being targeted, Microsoft said.
On the Net:
Network Associates
Symantec
Microsoft Warning
Government Warning
WHAT IS IT? VIRUS PROTECTION GENERAL PROTECTION Sign Up For Cyber AlertsDownload Virus Definitions Other Virus Removal ToolsSecurities Update VaultREMEMBER: Don't open e-mail attachments that end in .vbs, .pif or other unfamiliar extensions. Even if the e-mail appears to come from a trusted source, it could be someone "spoofing" an address. Confirm it's from who you think it's from before you open. |
Network AssociatesSymantecMicrosoft WarningGovernment Warning
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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