VIRUS ALERT

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp


Heads up, everyone.

It's been confirmed that a deadly virus has been spreading, disguising itself as a email labeled "Postcard". DO NOT OPEN IT!

According to most articles, the virus instantly attacks and kills your hard drive once you open it. As soon as you see it, you should shut off your computer now, so it will instead get sent to all of your contacts. (At least, I think. Maybe you should just shut off the compy...)

So yeah. Gear up mates, the "Storm's" coming!
Hey, I think I heard about this!
This is it, right?
Epic, PA.
And, Zero, my spam thing like blocks everything. XD
*cough*
It's just that 25% of the viruses have hit large companies.

Plus, the email contains no flash or other exe programs, only a link. And, furthermore, it steals its address from one of YOUR contacts.
-shrug-
I delete it if I don't recognize the sender.
The only way you should get this virus is if you are using an unpatched, out of the box version of Windows, and you have absolutely no virus scanning protection whatsoever. If you're stupid enough to not only WANT pieces of shit like e-cards, AND you never bothered Updating Windows or installing a virus scanner, then you probably shouldn't have a computer, in which case said virus will do it's job.
Ah. Okai.
I couldn't find much on it other than that link, so thank you.

So, new message: Don't be an idiot and open a message that reads "postcard".

And Hiko, chances are that SOMEONE who HAS your contact would be recognized by you.
......For some reason

I took what Steve said as an insult. Oh well.
[jacks in]

[sends Raiden chips]

[busts viruses]

[brick'd]

Quote (commondragon)

......For some reason

I took what Steve said as an insult. Oh well.

*snickers*

*nudges Steve and thumb points at Common*

Go! Go! 5-N-1 Awesome computer pwning security.

I don't think this is something to worry about. Who isn't on the computer without security on this forum anyway?

Quote (SpaceMonkeySteve)

The only way you should get this virus is if you are using an unpatched, out of the box version of Windows, and you have absolutely no virus scanning protection whatsoever. If you're stupid enough to not only WANT pieces of shit like e-cards, AND you never bothered Updating Windows or installing a virus scanner, then you probably shouldn't have a computer, in which case said virus will do it's job.

Oh...

So that's what a virus is for.

Clever.
Some of the dumber viruses, yes thats what its for, this applies to people who use cracks, serials, keygens, downloaders, some torrents (usually a smart person could tell right before even downloading it that it's not what its labled as), .exe archives, the list goes on.

things to protect yourself...

1. Firefox
2. Adblock Plus addon for Firefox
3. Spybot S&D with the residents turned on (go advanced mode and tools to find those options)
4. destroy all shortcuts to IE
5. Install ZoneAlarm's free firewall (yes its free, its the other stuff that isnt the firewall that isnt free) and have it deny access to any program you dont want to access the internet. I've also been able to get this to work with my Nintendo WiFi USB Connector so I can run both without any trouble or lag.
6. Uninstall Outlook and switch to GMail, or any other browser based email client, though I do recomend GMail over the others. Gmail doesnt let any unknown sender to display images, and doesnt allow auto downloading, plus firefox already does that so its doubled protection. not to mention a quite smart spam blocker which sends a lot of spam mail to the spam box.
7. update windows
8. in IE, disable ActiveX and a bunch of other stuff, note may conflict with some IM programs.
9. install Pidgin or Trillian and use that for your instantmessaging. AIM has been reported a good number of times of installing spyware on your computer, so this will allow to IM safly. Though I should mention, Trillian has a better interface than pidgin, but it has a bug where the & (and) Symbol doesnt show nor does any part of the message after that point. so "this is a & message and such" in trillian will appear as "this is a " which is a fun joke to play on trillian users to annoy them to talk behind their backs in group chats.

anyway thats about the advice i have to give. I use pidgin for the various IM protocols, yes the original programs the protocols were designed for give more features such as games, but who really plays those games or listen to the radios? not to mention it saves RAM to have one program running than 6 different ones.
Wow, I've done all of that stuff a couple of years ago.
you have, I have, but apparently people are still out there that havnt, or atleast it sounds like certain people who are in virus fear appear so.
According to Sora's list, I am a sitting duck for this virus.
Good thing I never check my email... >_>