MUMBAI -- May 5, 2000 Symantec Anti Virus Research Centre (SARC) has sent out a warning to systems administrators about mass breakout of a new worm. It is called VBS.LoveLetter.A. This is an e-mail worm, MIRC worm and file infector.
Symantec EMEA tech support has received many calls from corporations about hits by this new worm and SARC believes this one could be as bad as the Melissa virus that hit last year (April 1999).
SARC is currently working on a new virus definition for this worm. The perceived damage, distribution and wildness of the worm are high.
VBS.LoveLetter.A will use Microsoft Outlook and email itself out as an attachment with the subject line "ILOVEYOU" and attachment name. The body of the message will say, "kindly check the attached LOVELETTER coming from me". However, the damage is caused only if the attachment is accessed.
The worm also infects files with the following extensions: vbs, vbe, js, jse, css, wsh, sct, hta, jpg, jpeg, mp3, and mp2.
The worm will affect all the addresses in Microsoft Outlook address book. The worm degrades the performance of systems and clogs mail servers.
SARC recommends Administrators filter on the attachment name and Subject line immediately.
Mode for Removal: Delete found infected files.
Please await further information on virus definitions for this worm from Symantec.
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