| The Federal Bureau of Information is warning that a | | | | that the FBI does not engage in the practice of |
| new virus is being sent to unsuspecting Internet | | | | sending unsolicited e-mails to the public in this |
| users in an email which claims to be from the FBI. | | | | manner," the FBI said in a statement. |
| The vius is known as the Sober K Worm. Copyright | | | | Last month, the Federal Bureau of Investigations was |
| 2005 John PierceThe Federal Bureau of Information is | | | | forced to shut down their email system due to a |
| warning that a new virus is being sent to | | | | security vulnerability. It's not yet known if the sober |
| unsuspecting Internet users in an email which claims | | | | k virus is related to the earlier problems. |
| to be from the FBI. The vius is known as the Sober | | | | The virus sender is counting on the panic induced by |
| K Worm. | | | | the email to persuade the recipient to open the |
| The email, with an fbi.gov return address, tells the | | | | attachment. The ironic thing is that this virus plays |
| recipient that they have been observed accessing | | | | upon people's willingness to obey an authority figure, |
| illegal web sites. The recipient is then asked to open | | | | while the virus, itself, is an "in your face" affront to |
| an attached questionaire regarding their Internet | | | | the most powerful law enforcement agency in the |
| Usage. When the recipient clicks on the attachment, | | | | world. |
| a virus is loaded on their system. | | | | Some variants of this virus purport to be sent from |
| An example of the email bearing the Sober K Worm | | | | the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States |
| follows: | | | | Government. |
| You_visit_illegal_websitesDear Sir/Madam, we have | | | | Email users may guard themselves against this virus |
| logged your IP-address on more than 30 illegal | | | | by: |
| Websites. | | | | 1. NEVER open an attachment in an unsolicited email, |
| Important: | | | | even if it appears to have been sent by an |
| Please answer our questions!The list of questions are | | | | authotative source. |
| attached. | | | | 2. Be extremely cautious about opening attachments |
| Yours faithfully, Frederick Thompson | | | | from people you know. Many viruses use email |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation -FBI- | | | | spoofing to make it appear that the email was sent |
| 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 3220 | | | | by a trusted source. If in doubt, call the sender via |
| Washington, DC 20535phone: (202) 324-3000 | | | | telephone, and ask if they sent you an attachment. |
| It is not yet known what effect the virus has on a | | | | 3. Disable auto-viewing/opening of attachments in |
| user's computer. | | | | your email client software if possible. |
| "Recipients of this or similar solicitations should know | | | | 4. Keep your anti-virus definition software updated. |