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Self-executing virus
Name: doghead Date: March 1, 2004 at 08:29:06 Pacific OS: W98se CPU/Ram: P2/450/128/13
Comment:
Hmmmm.. on the I worm Beagle E thread, Martin Crandall raised the issue of self-executing viruses. Does this mean that when the email is opened, without attachment THAT is the trigger? If so, then THAT'S why having the preview panel open on Microsoft Outlook is dangerous, right?
Surely nothing can be triggered without being opened in the first place..... If it just shows on your inbox list, and you zap it, it's gone, right? And/or will the attachment (if any) have to be deleted from wherever your email programme stashed it?
Name: efabes Date: March 1, 2004 at 09:06:26 Pacific
Reply:
Yes, that is why you want to turn preview off. The "self-executing" file is a script, not an exe, bat, zip, etc.
The script is run when the email is opened (by you or by the preview being on).
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Response Number 2
Name: capt Date: March 1, 2004 at 09:45:55 Pacific
Reply:
Doghead, you can also increase your email security by using tools>options>read tab and then select "plain text" if you want to use Outlook/Express.
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Response Number 3
Name: theprop Date: March 1, 2004 at 10:10:02 Pacific
Reply:
Great topic! Can someone tell me how I can turn off my preview pane in outlook express? Thanks
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Response Number 4
Name: Tufenuf Date: March 1, 2004 at 11:31:17 Pacific
Reply:
theprop, Open Outlook Express/View/Layout and you'll find a box to uncheck (use preview pane etc.), click Apply/OK.
Tufenuf
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Response Number 5
Name: Martin Crandall Date: March 1, 2004 at 14:56:41 Pacific
Reply:
Thanks guys, maybe I should have explained "self executing". You have done it for me, thanks again.
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Response Number 6
Name: doghead Date: March 1, 2004 at 15:44:29 Pacific
Reply:
Well, I fingered that was what a "self executing" virus does. This raises another question: since this type of virus seems a lot more likely to actually get executed, why aren't ALL bugs designed this way? Are there limitations to the type of bug you can design in a programme of this type?
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Response Number 7
Name: efabes Date: March 1, 2004 at 16:22:51 Pacific
Reply:
Yeah, the scripts are written in html, visual basic (vbs=visual basic script) or javascript. They are usually written to take advantage of software vulnerabilities and/or infect certain file types (like html for example).
Search for "script virus" for some examples.
They are more limited than .exe and other file types. Not to worry though, other said file types spread easily enough because many fail to update, are ignorant of social engineering tricks, etc.
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