Hi Mary,
You're right. This one is legit. It's not a real virus per se. it's another
reason to not use Outlook. It will get into your addr. book and e-mail all
your friends and relatives therein.
It must be making the rounds cuz a friend sent me an e-mail about it. His
info (and what I sent this group from the Ext. computer guru follows) .
Note: the link to ZDNet takes a long time to load and basically gives the
same info as the article.
(Anyone using Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6 & Windows XP w/Outlook 2002
should read:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t281-s2127119,00.html
for even *more* good news. )
His first:
> BEWARE!! Just In Time For The Holidays: Those cute little
> electronic greeting cards you get from friends may turn out to be
> a real problem. The ones we speak of are those which have a link
> which states "[Some Name] has sent you a greeting card. Go here
> to get your greeting card".
>
> There's a new card company called "FriendGreetings.com". When
> you get a card notification from them and click on the link, it
> will take you to their site. You should be notified that you
> have to install an ActiveX control in order to view the card.
> When you begin to install, the first thing that pops up is what
> is known as a "EULA" (End User License Agreement). It is very
> long and you probably will not read it. The site operators are
> counting on that. When you scroll to the bottom of it and click
> "Accept," you have agreed to the terms of the EULA.
>
> Part of what you will have agreed to is to have
> monitoring/spyware software installed on your computer which will
> periodically report a vast array of data back to the card
> company. The other part that you've agreed to is to have the
> software send mail to EVERY SINGLE ADDRESS IN YOUR
ADDRESS BOOK.
>
> In short, you've voluntarily agreed to install a virus-type
> product on your machine. This is not a good thing. See:
> <http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2124528,00.html>
>
> Since there is no virus in the email and you're VOLUNTARILY
> agreeing to install the ActiveX component, VIRUS CHECKERS WILL
> NOT CATCH THIS. Just a reminder: DO NOT OPEN EMAIL
ATTACHMENTS
> when you are not expecting them and DO NOT RUN ANYTHING
FROM THE
> INTERNET WHICH REQUIRES A EULA AGREEMENT.
>
> Additionally - any link at the bottom of an e-mail which invites
> you to add color to or to upgrade or enhance your Outlook client
> is also in the same category of unsupported, not
> suggested/recommended. If you happen to click on the link and go
> to the site you will NOT be prompted for any agreement - the
> software from hotbar.com will automatically start installing to
> your computer and is a pain to remove. You are strongly advised
> to not use this type of add-on software.
Oct. 25, 2002--Mastgar
> Now that you Outlook users all have anti-virus software running and
> update it weekly, here's a new one for you!!
>
> Forewarned is forearmed,
> Beth Jarvis
>
> Words of wisdom from Bob Hursh, one of the Extension computer gurus:
>
> Though not technically a computer virus, a new e-greeting card scheme is
> becoming a nusiance. An email arrives with these characteristics:
>
> ====================
> Subject: <Recipient> you have an E-Card from <Sender>
> Body:
> <sender> has sent you an E-Card -- a virtual postcard from
> FriendGreetings.com.
> You can pickup your E-Card at FriendGreetings.com by clicking on the
> link below.
> <A url at www.friendgreetings.com>
>
> Message:
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> <Recipient>, I sent you a greeting card. Please pick it up. <Sender>
> ===================
>
> If the link to FriendGreetings is followed, you will be enticed to download and
> install an ActiveX control from Permissioned Media Inc. Once installed, it
> immediately e-mails a greeting card from you to your Microsoft Outlook Contacts
> List.
>
> An effect of one of the components of this application results in minimized
> Windows and applications being hidden from the taskbar.
>
> You should not download and run the installer program from
> www.friendgreetings.com.
