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!
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|__________|__________/__________|__________|___________/ | \
/ /______|----\
| There's nothing wrong with computers, but they aren't pigs. | |
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\___/ \___/ 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
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