Re: [nznog] blaster worm

On Sat, 16 Aug 2003, Joe Abley wrote:

...

Hey Nathan, tell Bill that word is not an appropriate format for publishing information on the internet, eh? If he's looking for portable alternatives, there's this thing called "text".

Seems Microsoft is very kindly sending out patches to all and sundry as well. Got this one at my spam magnet, err, I mean IDGNZ email account:

Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 12:02:58 -0400 From: Microsoft Corporation Network Customer Services To: Microsoft Consumer <@> Subject: Network Security Patch Parts/Attachments: 1.1 Shown ~58 lines Text 1.2 OK ~79 lines Text 2 159 KB Application ----------------------------------------

Microsoft Consumer

this is the latest version of security update, the "August 2003, Cumulative Patch" update which eliminates all known security vulnerabilities affecting Internet Explorer, Outlook and Outlook Express as well as five newly discovered vulnerabilities. Install now to protect your computer from these vulnerabilities, the most serious of which could allow an attacker to run executable on your system. This update includes the functionality of all previously released patches.

System requirements: Win 9x/Me/2000/NT/XP

This update applies to: Microsoft Internet Explorer, version 4.01 and later Microsoft Outlook, version 8.00 and later Microsoft Outlook Express, version 4.01 and later

Recommendation: Customers should install the patch at the earliest opportunity.

How to install: Run attached file. Click Yes on displayed dialog box.

How to use: You don't need to do anything after installing this item.

Microsoft Technical Support is available at http://support.microsoft.com/

For security-related information about Microsoft products, please visit the Microsoft Security Advisor web site at http://www.microsoft.com/security

Contact us at http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/goregwiz.asp?target=/contactus/contactus.asp

Please do not reply to this message. It was sent from an unmonitored e-mail address and we are unable to respond to any replies.

Thank you for using Microsoft products.

With friendly greetings, Microsoft Corporation Network Customer Services ________________________________________ ©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. The names of the actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

--- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by Symantec anti-virus system (http://www.symantec.com). Release Date: 27.7.2003

[ Part 2, Application/X-MSDOWNLOAD 212KB. ] [ Not Shown. Use the "V" command to view or save this part. ]

;-)

Just in case a few people didn't pick up on your sarcasm, that message is in fact a fake, and as well as that, the copy that I received was infected with the I-Worm.gibe.b virus. Anybody that has used the Microsoft download site before will know that Microsoft never email executables or patches... Hmm so what do we have here I wonder, someone deliberately attaching a copy of a virus to a fake Microsoft bulletin, or a virus that automatically sends itself along with a fake Microsoft bulletin ? Either way it isn't good for Microsoft ;-) Regards, Simon