I recieved this from Adelphia (my IP provider) yesterday morning. And, thought everyone should here about it, as, I have not heard anything else about it from other sources......
Dear Valued Customer,
We have recently learned about a new virus, called Blackworm that is scheduled to be released early tomorrow. This virus is also known by the following names: Nyxem, Kapser.A, and Kama Sutra. Following is some additional information about this particular virus:
Virus Description:
Blackworm is a mass-mailing virus that attempts to spread via email. Infected computers will send out copies of the virus as attachments via email-addresses that are collected from the computer. This virus has its own email engine and it can send out emails even if you are not running an email program.
Who is affected?
Users of the Windows operating system including, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
How is it transmitted?
The virus is transmitted through email attachments, or shared network files.
How can this virus affect the computer?
It creates various files in Windows and Windows System directories.
Attempts to end processes pertaining to anti-virus or security products such as Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro and others.
Creates registry entries.
Attempts to copy itself to specific network shares.
Gathers email addresses from various file types within your computer.
If the computer is connected to other network computers the virus will try to copy itself on the remote computer.
If the virus is executed on the 3rd day of every month, it will destroy all files with the following extensions by overwriting the file: *.doc , *.xls , *.mdb , *.mde , *.ppt , *.pps , *.zip , *.rar , *.pdf , *.psd, *.dmp. IMPORTANT NOTE: the potential for this virus to destroy your user data as outlined above is what makes it of particular concern.