[Elfsea] OT -- Virus Problem

[lizdenpeters at juno.com]

Good Gentles,

My computer was recently infected with a particularly vicious virus,
W32.Klez and several of its sub viruses.  This virus disables antiviral
programs, disk fixes, windows program files, windows registration, Adobe,
etc.  Since I am very conscientious about updating my virus definitions,
I am at a loss to know how and when my computer became infected.
However, one of the particularly vicious aspects of this virus it that it
randomly selects e-mail addresses and sends a relatively innocuous
looking e-mail to a recipient where it replicates and does the same thing
on their computer.  The rating on this virus at the Symantec site is 4 (5
is the most dangerous).  If you have received any e-mails from me, please
check your computer.  If you have Norton Systemworks or Norton
Anti-Virus, you can go to their web site (www.sarc.com) and have the web
site do an on-line check of your computer to see if you are infected.  I
would imagine that most providers of antiviral software have a similar
service.

Cleaning this off my computer has been a harrowing (distressing, tearful,
etc., etc.) and time-consuming experience.  I only hope that I have not
infected many people.

Since I have no way of knowing how many people I may have accidentally
infected, I am sending this e-mail in the interest of expediency.  My
abject apologies to any of you that I may have infected.

Nuala