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LUV 2 INFECT U
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ShareFebruary 13, 2008 10:18 AM
Before you click on that e-card from your sweetie this Valentine's Day, read this.
Millions of e-mails disguised as e-cards, but actually containing a computer virus believed to be from Russia, are sent out on various holidays throughout the year.
Innocent and lonely computer users looking for a little romance on Valentine's Day click on the e-card hoping for a love note from their special someone, and instead their computer is immediately, but secretly, infiltrated by the virus. The computer is then controlled by the people who sent the virus, and they can launch commands to send more spam e-mails or other criminal activity such as identity theft.
The virus has been around for years, but experts say spammers take advantage of the holidays hoping people will be more likely to open e-cards.
"This virus always occurs around the holidays because people are more likely to click on a link that says they've received an e-card," said Korin Munsterman, the director of the Office of Technology at American University.
So tomorrow, consider saying, "I love you" the old-fashioned way, in person.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
February 13, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (5)
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Pass this around
Posted by: Sandi | Feb 13, 2008 11:18:11 AM
slow news day.
Posted by: dave | Feb 13, 2008 12:22:13 PM
I like how this article says absolutely nothing regarding how to detect a fake e-card from a real one, making it pretty unhelpful since e-cards are sent all the time even for birthdays. So I'll try to be a little more helpful: If you receive an e-card check that it mentions the name of the company. If it's an e-card company you know of, manually type in the company's website and when there type in your redemption code and if you really have one it should pop up that way. If you don't recognize the company, don't open the e-card unless you know the person sending, and even if you do you can try to be sneaky by thanking the person for sending it before you open it and when they say you're welcome (instead of "What are you talking about?") you can open it and view it.
Posted by: Bill M | Feb 13, 2008 12:24:34 PM
Isn't it cruel that Russian hackers have to make a simple gesture into a insidious way to slowly destroy one's property. Why must intelligent people spend their time in pursuits of this nature when there are so many more pursuits that would actually help people and make their lives easier?
Posted by: Bob | Feb 13, 2008 12:24:58 PM
not a good piece of journalism. which virus? does current anti-virus software detect it? what are the usual subject lines? infects all year? russian? sounds like US propaganda warning of the red terror!
Posted by: lief | Feb 14, 2008 5:36:26 PM
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