FedEx/UPS Virus alert

[Kathryn41 3,207]

Virus alert - - UPS Packet Service

REAL Holiday Virus alert!!!

With Christmas fast approaching, watch out for this ... be alert!!! The newest virus circulating is the UPS Delivery Failure. Applies to Fed Ex as well.You will receive an email from UPS Packet Service along with a packet number. NOTE: The word packet is misspelled on this line. It will say that they were un-able to deliver a package sent to you on such and such a date. It then asks you to print out the invoice copy attached. DON'T TRY TO PRINT THIS. IT LAUNCHES THE VIRUS! Pass this warning on to all your PC operators at work and home. This virus has caused Millions of dollars in damage in the past few days.

See: http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/ups.asp *

[Ban Hammer 14,690]

good to know, thank you!

[payxibka 10,048]

I think I received this e-mail yesterday... gmail properly characterized it as spam....

a question I would have was how would they get your e-mail address? If I am not mistaken, FedX & UPS ask for a phone number for the recipient and not an e-mail....

[IAMX 3,055]

First, check the headers. Second, understand that UPS will never send you files, as all tracking and information is on their website. If you are dumb enough to open files from these sources, you deserve the virus.

As for how they get these emails, they use a robot similar to what search engines do (programs like these are not hard to make), these e-mails are taken from public queries of websites, data mined, then used to massively spam.

[payxibka 10,048]

no I meant how would FEDX or UPS get the recipient's e-mail.... (if it was legit)... sorry I was not clear...

[IAMX 3,055]

It mostly isn't legit. It's just typical random spam. People get Bank of America spam, Paypal spam, etc. It's just random e-mails that were data mined and typically there's a good % of people who have accounts or services through those places, so it banks on people downloading files or visiting some alternative website (with copy/pasted source code) where they enter their information and get it stolen.

[payxibka 10,048]

It mostly isn't legit. It's just typical random spam. People get Bank of America spam, Paypal spam, etc. It's just random e-mails that were data mined and typically there's a good % of people who have accounts or services through those places, so it banks on people downloading files or visiting some alternative website (with copy/pasted source code) where they enter their information and get it stolen.

I know it is not legit but apparently the common man has a problem understanding it...

[IAMX 3,055]

It mostly isn't legit. It's just typical random spam. People get Bank of America spam, Paypal spam, etc. It's just random e-mails that were data mined and typically there's a good % of people who have accounts or services through those places, so it banks on people downloading files or visiting some alternative website (with copy/pasted source code) where they enter their information and get it stolen.

I know it is not legit but apparently the common man has a problem understanding it...

This "common man" is also why I get paid on the side to fix computers.

So while I wish people would be more sensible, it also gives me more money to fix their mistakes.