ITinfo: Papa Email Virus Is Worse Than Melissa

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Papa virus is worse than Melissa

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Papa Email Virus Is Worse Than Melissa
by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

A new virus is active, even while the Melissa virus which swamped hundreds of thousands of email users earlier today is still making its way around the net, and the full effects of its damage are yet to be realized.

The Papa virus is an Excel macro virus that transmits itself to the first 60 people in a Microsoft Outlook or Exchange address book. And what's worse, the Papa virus transmits it's insidious message every time it's activated.

Email messages containing the Papa virus may contain subjects related to "all.net and Fred Cohen." The Excel attachment is usually named path.xls.

When the Excel attachment is opened, the Microsoft Word will ask if you would like to disable the macro. If the victim clicks "Yes," the macro will cease, and the virus is stopped dead in its tracks. But most users naturally do not want to disable macros, and therefore click "No." This allows the macro to transmit it self to 60 people in the victim's address book.

The virus also opens a security hole in corporate firewalls and home Internet connections by pinging a site on the net so many times that it can crash networks or leave the port open.

As of the time of this writing a fix for Papa is not available; however, Network Associates will probably have one available tomorrow.

In the meantime, and as always, never open email file attachments from senders you don't know, and always be careful with file attachments, even if they come from an acquaintance.

What do you think? Have you ever been a virus victim? Leave your comments on the Message Center.

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Details of the Melissa virus
Network Associates

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updated March 29, 1999
http://dgl.com/itinfo/1999/it990329.html