19 Aug 2006: Important Virus Alert

There is a virus named Blackmail (also known as Mywife).

For details:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/encyclopedia/details.aspx?name=Win32%2fMywife.E%40mm

It corrupts your important data files *.doc, *.xls, *.mdb, *.mde, *.ppt, *.pps, *.zip, *.rar, *.pdf, *.psd, *.dmp to an unrecoverable extent.

To prevent infection make sure that you have an antivirus installed (I recommend Nod32) and make sure it is being updated. Most important is that you make sure that the ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION IS ENABLED. In case of Nod32 you can see that it is enabled by checking the color of its icon in the system tray. It should not be RED (near your computer clock)

If you maintain your antivirus and ensure that it is in ENABLED state, then there is nothing to worry.

Preferably use Windows XP Service Pack 2 with FIREWALL ENABLED.

I also suggest that you backup your data regularly (at least once a month) on some OTHER computer / or an external media like USB drive or CD/DVD etc. The place where you make the backup must NOT remain connected to your computer else it is also prone to be attacked. For example if you have the USB drive available to the computer, and the virus triggers, it will also corrupt the files on your USB drive.

I will later send instructions on how to easily manage your backups. But meanwhile please use ordinary methods.