California
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- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
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Re: Don\'t be fooled by Microsoft Update eMail!!!!
Apparently it's real.
I just found two related messages in my PacBell email, both from the ISP and both titled:
"Worm Threat: Immediate Action Required".
1) [sent April 30] Dear SBC Internet Services Member:
It is extremely important that you read this message
and take immediate action if you are using
Windows NT, 2000 or XP.
A computer worm referred to as Gaobot, is currently
infecting computers across the Internet. In response,
we strongly urge you to take the following
security measures:
1) Use a personal software or hardware firewall to protect
your computers from network worms and intruders.
2) Download and install all available critical patches for
your Windows operating system from the Microsoft web
site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
3) Use up-to-date anti-virus software to detect and remove
Gaobot or other computer worms and viruses.
---end, excerpt---
2) [msg created today Sunday may 2, 4:10 pm PDT]:
Worm Threat: Immediate Action Required
Dear SBC Internet Services Member:
This is an extremely important update to an e-mail SBC sent you 04/30/04 or 05/01/04. It is extremely important you read this message and take immediate action if you are using Windows NT, 2000, 2003 or XP.
In addition to a computer worm referred to as Gaobot or Agobot, that is currently infecting computers across the Internet, there is now another computer worm, known as Sasser, that is spreading across the Internet, exploiting the same apparent security vulnerability in these Microsoft Windows operating systems.
In response, we strongly urge you to immediately take the following security measures:
1) Use a personal software or hardware firewall to protect your computers from network worms and intruders.
2) Download and install all available critical patches for your Windows operating system from the Microsoft web site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
3) Use up-to-date anti-virus software to detect and remove Gaobot and Sasser or other computer worms and viruses.
It is extremely important you take these measures now because it’s likely you will not be able to take these measures if your computer becomes infected.
If you have more than one computer using these specific Windows operating systems, you should perform these actions on all such computers that connect to the Internet. Failure to take appropriate action could result in infection of your system, slow browsing or the inability to connect to the Internet and spread of this problem - and could lead to suspension of your account.
Because computer worms do not spread by email, you may have little or no warning before your computers are infected.
Users whose computers are infected with Sasser should follow the worm removal instructions at: http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/sasser.asp,
or if infected with Gaobot, follow the worm removal instructions at: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.gaobot.removal.tool.html.
If you are unable to connect to the Windows Update or Anti-Virus web sites, in order to download the removal tools or the patches for Windows and your anti-virus software, please contact Microsoft at 866-PCSAFETY or 866-727-2338.
-- end, excerpt --
A similar discussion of the worm is referenced from PacBell's System Status page. You may need to be subscriber to see this:
https://secure.pacbell.net/status/lp/st-detail.cgi?component=dsl
Apparently it's real.
I just found two related messages in my PacBell email, both from the ISP and both titled:
"Worm Threat: Immediate Action Required".
1) [sent April 30] Dear SBC Internet Services Member:
It is extremely important that you read this message
and take immediate action if you are using
Windows NT, 2000 or XP.
A computer worm referred to as Gaobot, is currently
infecting computers across the Internet. In response,
we strongly urge you to take the following
security measures:
1) Use a personal software or hardware firewall to protect
your computers from network worms and intruders.
2) Download and install all available critical patches for
your Windows operating system from the Microsoft web
site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
3) Use up-to-date anti-virus software to detect and remove
Gaobot or other computer worms and viruses.
---end, excerpt---
2) [msg created today Sunday may 2, 4:10 pm PDT]:
Worm Threat: Immediate Action Required
Dear SBC Internet Services Member:
This is an extremely important update to an e-mail SBC sent you 04/30/04 or 05/01/04. It is extremely important you read this message and take immediate action if you are using Windows NT, 2000, 2003 or XP.
In addition to a computer worm referred to as Gaobot or Agobot, that is currently infecting computers across the Internet, there is now another computer worm, known as Sasser, that is spreading across the Internet, exploiting the same apparent security vulnerability in these Microsoft Windows operating systems.
In response, we strongly urge you to immediately take the following security measures:
1) Use a personal software or hardware firewall to protect your computers from network worms and intruders.
2) Download and install all available critical patches for your Windows operating system from the Microsoft web site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
3) Use up-to-date anti-virus software to detect and remove Gaobot and Sasser or other computer worms and viruses.
It is extremely important you take these measures now because it’s likely you will not be able to take these measures if your computer becomes infected.
If you have more than one computer using these specific Windows operating systems, you should perform these actions on all such computers that connect to the Internet. Failure to take appropriate action could result in infection of your system, slow browsing or the inability to connect to the Internet and spread of this problem - and could lead to suspension of your account.
Because computer worms do not spread by email, you may have little or no warning before your computers are infected.
Users whose computers are infected with Sasser should follow the worm removal instructions at: http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/sasser.asp,
or if infected with Gaobot, follow the worm removal instructions at: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.gaobot.removal.tool.html.
If you are unable to connect to the Windows Update or Anti-Virus web sites, in order to download the removal tools or the patches for Windows and your anti-virus software, please contact Microsoft at 866-PCSAFETY or 866-727-2338.
-- end, excerpt --
A similar discussion of the worm is referenced from PacBell's System Status page. You may need to be subscriber to see this:
https://secure.pacbell.net/status/lp/st-detail.cgi?component=dsl
