Update on Osama Virus

The FBI sent out an alert Wednesday warning computer users not to open e-mails or links claiming to show videos or photos of Osama bin Laden’s death.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, an ongoing virus has spread throughout the Internet on social networking sites, such as Facebook, as well as through e-mailed links, leading to infected computer systems and even the theft of users’ identities.

“As soon as sensational stories hit like that, they’ll send e-mails that lead to random sites because people want to hear about it,” said Alec Hart, head tech at Balance Computer Repair in St. Joseph. The same happened with the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March, he said.

The malware contained within these links will not only wipe a computer with a virus, but will access the users’ address book to further spread the virus.

Mr. Hart said the easiest way to avoid clicking those links is to Google the information that the e-mail claims to provide. If a photo of the deceased Osama bin Laden has been released, users will be able to find it on a reputable news source instead of having to rely on an e-mail or a Facebook wall post.

According to the Associated Press, President Barack Obama has decided not to release any photos of the deceased Osama bin Laden, so any link claiming to show this photo or video should not be opened.

Typically, e-mails that contain malicious links or viruses will have major misspellings and may contain .zip files, an archive file that contains multiple files and folders, which Mr. Hart says is to difficult and time-consuming for the average computer user to send.

Also, Mr. Hart said “it’s important to know how the people in your address book write to you,” so look for any inconsistencies in language from e-mails sent from friends, which will typically be a giveaway it was sent as part of a scam.

The FBI and Mr. Hart also suggests to keep antivirus software up-to-date (there are plenty of free versions available), as well as ensure your e-mail settings scan attachments before they are opened.

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