USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: Sharing useful information on Virus/Malware Precaution Reminder for Windows Users

Dear All:

If you are using a Windows computer please be aware that criminals are continuing to send emails with zipped attachments containing very nasty viruses.  The most recent examples of these, when opened, will encrypt any files they discover on your computer and on shared folders/drives.  Next the malware will demand ransom of $300-$1000 to provide a decryption key.  At the very least this is inconvenient (we can usually restore from backups).  Worse it could mean data loss, data breach or identity theft.

These attachments are zipped (compressed), which allows them to evade detection by our email security scanners.  Be very suspicious of any unexpected zipped attachments.

In order to deceive email recipients (you and me), the malware containing email messages are crafted in an attempt to appear legitimate.   One recent example purported to be a bounced back email message, with an attachment that claimed to be the bounced email, but in fact was a tiny, nasty program.  Another apparent example appeared to come from a scanner.

Please be extremely suspicious of any unexpected, unsolicited emails with attachments or web links.  If you have the slightest doubt, please do not open the attachment, but rather forward it with your concerns to IT staff at vpfahelp@ithelp.uoregon.edu. 

Thank you all for your time and attention,

-Tim

Tim Miller

Director of Information Technology Services

Finance and Administration

University of Oregon

541-346-3066

tjm@uoregon.edu

541-346-8299 Tech Support

vpfahelp@ithelp.uoregon.edu