For those of you who share files through Kazaa, there is a new worm with aliases such as Worm.P2P.Apsiv (Kaspersky) and W32/Apsiv.worm!p2p (McAfee) and seemingly affects Windows systems 2000, 95, 98, Me, NT, Server 2003 and Windows XP. The damage profile has not yet been assessed, but it would be a good idea to steer clear of this one as well.

"Keylogger.Stawin" is probably one of nastiest viruses as it attempts to steal a user's online banking information. A Trojan is distributed through email messages with subject line, "I still love you," and has a "message.zip" attachment. Affecting same vunerable systems as mentioned above, Keylogger records keystrokes and has ability to steal personal, financial information. A few systems that Keylogger monitors are window titles such as "PayPal," "Logon," and numerous other window titles associated with banking logins.

Common Hoaxes

A popular hoax circulating Internet is an email titled, "FREE M &M's." Sorry guys - no M & M's here. More recently, you may have received "Life is Beautiful" virus ... er, hoax. The "Life is Beautiful" virus is not real and should be ignored. This is only a scare tactic that causes unwarranted fears and concerns.

In closing, Internet is a massive electronical world filled with infinite bits of information. When using your "key" to this magnificent but vast window of versatile knowledge, it pays to use logic when distinguishing hoaxes from real threats such as viruses and worms. To learn more about current viruses and worms, go to: http://search.symantec.com/custom/us/query.html For an updated listing of current email hoaxes, go to: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html

(c) 2004 Lady Camelot - Public Relations' Director for www.holisticjunction.com

PCs are usually sold with anti-virus software installed but protection it affords falls down when user fails to keep virus data files that software uses up to date. Updates are usually available for free via software vendors web site and downloading such updates at least weekly needs to be part of routine maintenance of a PC.

If you don't currently have anti-virus software on your computer then we recommend that you download FREE version of AVG Anti-Virus from Grisoft.

Installation itself is a simple process if you accept all of default settings that program suggests. A re-boot will be necessary at end of installation to fully activate software and we suggest you begin by performing a full scan of your hard drive(s).

AVG can be set to download virus definition updates automatically from Grisoft web site thus ensuring that you always have protection from latest virus threats. You can upgrade to 'Pro' version of software if you wish but we have always found FREE version to be very effective and can highly recommend it.

Other anti-virus software is available from Symantec (Norton Anti-Virus) and MacAfee as well as other companies. If you are already using their anti-virus products then make sure they are up to date by using software to check for virus definition up-dates. Symantec are particular well thought of within industry and are often first to respond to any new virus threat.

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