Date:         Wed, 10 Nov 1999 04:23:29 -0600
Reply-To:     TOURBUS-Request@LISTSERV.AOL.COM
Sender:       The Internet TourBus - A virtual tour of cyberspace
              
Comments:     Resent-From: crispen@netsquirrel.com
Comments:     Originally-From: Patrick Douglas Crispen 
From:         Patrick Douglas Crispen 
Subject:      TOURBUS-BONUS -- 10 NOV 99 -- BUBBLEBOY!
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
 
Blah blah blah ASCII graphics blah blah ...
     _________ ____________ ________ __________ _____________ ___ _
    /         |            /        |          |             /   | \
   |          |           /         |          |            /    |  \
   |__________|__________/__________|__________|___________/     |   \
  /                                                       /______|----\
| There's nothing wrong with computers, but they aren't pigs.   |    |
\________________________________________________________|______|____|
     /   \  /   \                                             /   \
     \___/  \___/  T h e   I n t e r n e t   T o u r B u s    \___/
 
TODAY'S BONUS TOURBUS STOP(S):
    BubbleBoy!
TODAY'S BONUS TOURBUS ADDRESS(ES):
    http://news.excite.com/news/r/991110/03/net-tech-virus
    http://www.microsoft.com/security/Bulletins/ms99-032.asp
 
Howdy, y'all, and welcome aboard a quick, bonus TOURBUS post.  Why a
bonus post?  Well, Reuters is reporting that
 
      Researchers have discovered what they believe to be the first e-
      mail-borne computer infection that doesn't require a user to open
      an e-mail or e-mail attachment for it to wreak havoc.
 
      Dubbed "Bubbleboy" after an episode of TV sitcom "Seinfeld," the
      virus is known as a worm because it is self-propagating ...
 
      "Historically, as long as you don't open e-mail attachments
      you're safe from virus infection, but this changes all that,"
      said Sal Viveros, a marketing manager at Network Associates.
 
      [You can read the entire Reuters story online at
      http://news.excite.com/news/r/991110/03/net-tech-virus ]
 
Yadda yadda yadda.  Ignore the hysteria, folks -- here is what is
*REALLY* going on.  There is a significant security hole in Microsoft
Windows 98 (and later versions of 95) that could conceivably give some
nefarious netizen the ability to do ANYTHING to your computer -- like
erase your files, format your hard drive, and so on.  Because
Microsoft's products are so closely integrated, this security hole
affects anyone who uses Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 or 5 ... and,
from what I can gather, it also affects anyone who uses Microsoft
Outlook or Outlook Express.
 
"Bubbleboy" takes advantage of this well-known security hole.
 
Now for the good news: Microsoft released a software patch that fixed
this hole way back on August 31st!  As long as you install the patch,
you have nothing to worry about.  Bubbleboy will NOT get you!
 
Here is how to download and install the patch:
 
      1. Go to Start --> Settings --> Windows Update on your PC.  This
         launches Internet Explorer and connects you to Microsoft's
         Windows Update page [ http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ ]
 
      2. On the left-hand side of the page, click on the "Product
         Updates" link (it is the one with the hand and the red *)
 
      3. A pop-up window will appear, telling you to wait while your
         computer DOESN'T send any information to Microsoft (well,
         that's what it says!)
 
      4. Eventually, you'll see a page that says "Select Software."
         When Microsoft releases an essential update or patch, they put
         it in this page's "Critical Updates" section.  So, click on
         EVERYTHING in the "Critical Updates" section and then click on
         the big, grey "Download" arrow in the top right hand corner of
         the page.  [The file that fixes the Bubbleboy security hole is
         called "Update for Security Vulnerabilities in
         'Scriptlet.typlib' and 'Eyedog' ActiveX Controls," but you
         might as well download ALL of Microsoft's critical updates
         while you're at it -- it is better to be safe than sorry.]
 
      5. Follow the on-screen prompts.  That's it!  :)
 
You can also download the patch directly from Microsoft at
 

http://www.microsoft.com/security/Bulletins/ms99-032.asp 
 
but the Windows Update method is a heck of a lot easier!
 
What about Reuters' warning that "[r]esearchers have discovered what
they believe to be the first e-mail-borne computer infection that
doesn't require a user to open an e-mail or e-mail attachment for it
to wreak havoc?"  Should you panic?  Of course not.  This too shall
pass.  Take a deep breath, and then download and install the security
patch.  Problem solved.  :)
 
TODAY'S BONUS TOURBUS STOP(S):
    BubbleBoy!
TODAY'S BONUS TOURBUS ADDRESS(ES):
    http://news.excite.com/news/r/991110/03/net-tech-virus
    http://www.microsoft.com/security/Bulletins/ms99-032.asp
 
---------------------------------
TODAY'S SOUTHERN WORD OF THE WEEK
---------------------------------
 
HAIL (noun).  Where bad people go.
Usage: "If you don't go to church, you're going to hail!"
 
[Special thanks to ME for today's wurd]
 
You can find all of the old Southern Words of the day at

http://netsquirrel.com/crispen/word.html 
 
The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2239
Copyright © Bob Rankin and Patrick Crispen - All rights reserved
=====================[ Tourbus Rider Information ]===================

    The Internet Tourbus - U.S.  Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238
       Copyright 1995-99, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved
 
   Do You Like Tourbus?  Recommend It and You Could Win a Palm Pilot!
 CLICK 
 
Archives & Advertising Info: Online at http://www.TOURBUS.com
=====================================================================
 
            .~~~.  ))
  (\__/)  .'     )  ))       Patrick Douglas Crispen
  /o o  \/     .~
{o_,    \    {              crispen@netsquirrel.com
   / ,  , )    \           http://www.netsquirrel.com/
   `~  '-' \    } ))    AOL Instant Messenger: Squirrel2K
  _(    (   )_.'
'---..{____}                  Warning: squirrels.

TOURBUS
HOME PAGE
LINUX
TUTORIAL
TOURBUS
ARCHIVES
TOURBUS BONUS -- 10 NOV 99 -- BUBBLEBOY!, viruses, hoaxes, urban legends, search engines, cookies, cool sites
TOURBUS Site Search