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Forwarded from comp.internet.net-happenings:

> From: K-12 Educators Interested in Educational Administration
> [mailto:K12ADMIN@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Bonnie Bracey
> Sent: Friday, June 11, 1999 2:20 AM
> To: K12ADMIN@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Warning! PrettyPark & Worm: Two New Viruses for Microsoft Word
> and Outlook users
> 
> Warning! PrettyPark & Worm:
> Two New Viruses for
> Microsoft Word and Outlook users
> 
> Two new Microsoft Word 97 and Microsoft 2000 viruses, named PrettyPark and
> Worm, were discovered over this past weekend and are said to be spreading
> widely on the Internet.
> 
> These viruses come as files attached to e-mail and are currently
> circulating
> the Internet with the file names "PrettyPark.EXE" and "zipped_files.exe."
> 
> The e-mail containing one of these viruses may look similar to the sample
> e-mail provided below, or it may have no subject line at all. You can
> become
> infected with these viruses by downloading and opening an infected
> Microsoft
> Word document attached to an e-mail. You can also become infected by
> downloading an infected file inadvertently sent to you by an infected
> friend
> or colleague. Once the downloaded file is opened, an error message may be
> displayed and the virus will spread to Microsoft Word files created or
> edited
> on the infected computer. These viruses will also delete files on your
> computer.
> 
> Note! This infected e-mail may come from, or look like it came from someone
> you know! Be alert for short e-mails that ask you to download an attached
> file.  And always be cautious in downloading files from people or sources
> you
> do not know.
> 
> Once your computer is infected, it will spread the viruses in one of two
> ways. If you also use Microsoft Outlook, the viruses will be automatically
> e-mailed as an attached file to the people in your Outlook address book.
> Those people will receive an e-mail like the one provided below. Second,
> you
> will inadvertently infect others if you send them infected Microsoft Word
> files attached to an e-mail message. Once infected, the viruses will make
> changes to your Microsoft Word settings that make it easier for it to
> spread
> itself.
> 
> If you think you may have downloaded these viruses, please go to one of the
> sites listed below for instructions on how to remove them.
> 
> There are no known effects to the AOL software at this time.
> 
> ** Begin sample e-mail message **
>   Subj: <no subject>
>   Date: 6/10/99 4:44:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time
> 
>   File:  zipped_files.exe (210,432 bytes)
> 
> Hi!
> 
> I received your email and I shall send you a reply ASAP.
> 
> Till then, take a look at the attached zipped docs.
> 
> bye
> 
> ** End sample e-mail message **
> 
> How to protect yourself from the these viruses:
> * Install the latest versions anti-virus software on your computer as soon
> as
> possible.  These viruses are very new and you should update your anti-virus
> software as soon as possible.
> * If you already have anti-virus software, make sure it is up to date. Most
> anti-virus companies have posted updates on their Web sites that will
> combat
> the PrettyPark and Worm viruses. Some of those sites are listed below.
> * If you use Microsoft Word, there are
> <A HREF="aol://4344:2452.macro.26156796.607189184">steps you can take</A>
> to
> protect yourself by turning on macro virus detection in your Microsoft Word
> application.
> 
> For more information on the PrettyPark and Worm viruses, how to protect
> your
> computer and how to remove it from your computer, visit these sites:
> 
> <A
> HREF="http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/prettypark.worm.html">Symantec
> AntiVirus Research Center: PrettyPark.Worm
> </A>
> <A
> HREF="http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/worm.explore.zip.html">Symante
> c
> AntiVirus Research Center: Worm.ExploreZip
> </A>
> <A HREF="aol://4344:1207.ticker6.9447271.611422365">CNET News.com
> Update</A>
> 
> There are two easy steps that you can take to protect your Microsoft Word
> software from the Melissa Virus and others like it. We recommend that you
> print the directions provided below and use them as a step-by-step guide to
> protecting your Microsoft Word software from macro viruses.
> 
> Step 1: Add a Password to the Normal.dot File
> 
> The Normal.dot file is the basic template that Microsoft Word opens when
> you
> select New from the File menu or click on the New icon. When this file is
> infected with a macro virus, every document that you create with the normal
> template becomes infected. To keep this template virus-free, protect it
> with
> a password so that only you can make changes to it.
> 
> To Password Protect the Normal.dot File:
> 
> 1. Start the Microsoft Word software.
> 2. From the Tools menu, select Macro, then Visual Basic Editor.
> 3. In the window labeled Project, click on Normal.
> 4. From the Tools menu, select Normal Properties, then click on the
> Protection tab.
> 5. Check the Lock Project for Viewing check box and type in a password
> twice.
> 6. Click OK.
> 7. From the File menu, select Close and Return to Microsoft Word.
> 8. Exit the Microsoft Word software. The next time you start Microsoft
> Word,
> the normal.dot template will be protected.
> 
> Step 2: Set the Appropriate Macro Options in Microsoft Word
> 
> A macro is a line of commands that are created to automate some task. For
> example, you can create a macro that searches and replaces words and
> phrases
> throughout a document as you create it. Most Microsoft Word documents don't
> contain macros. Microsoft Word has preferences that you can set to alert
> you
> when a document that you are opening contains a macro or when the
> Normal.dot
> file is being changed.
> 
> To Set Macro Options:
> 
> 1. Start the Microsoft Word software.
> 2. From the Tools menu, select Options, then the General tab.
> 3. Click in the Macro Virus Protection check box.
> 4. Click in the Confirm conversions at open check box.
> 5. Click on the Save tab.
> 6. Click in the Prompt to save Normal template check box.
> 7. Click OK.
> 
> Now, whenever you open a document containing a macro, Microsoft Word will
> alert you that the document contains a macro. Never open a file that
> contains
> a macro unless you know what the macro is doing.
> 


--
####    |\^/|     Colin R. Leech     ag414 or crleech@freenet.carleton.ca
#### _|\|   |/|_  Civil engineer by training, transport planner by choice.
#### >         <  Opinions are my own. You may consider them shareware.
####  >_./|\._<   "If you can't return a favour, pass it on." - A.L. Brown