10/08/02

'Bugbear' Virus Alert: Precautions Urged

SBC Internet Services experts are advising both individual Internet users and businesses to take appropriate security measures to protect their computers from a new worm known as Bugbear, which is rapidly spreading by email.

First reported last week, Bugbear e-mails itself to other computers, disables firewall and antivirus software, sets up a “backdoor” for future attacks and records users’ keystrokes. Those actions make Bugbear particularly dangerous because they could expose bank account information, credit card numbers, user names, passwords and other information.

“Bugbear has spread relatively quickly and it’s important that Internet users to be ready to defend their computers and their personal information,” says Sean Donelan, director of Internet security, SBC Internet Services. “It’s possible that this is the most significant threat since last year’s Sircam worm.”

Bugbear, also known as Tanatos, can arrive in emails with different subject headings, but initial reports say it almost always has an attachment that is 50,668 bytes. SBC Internet Services also cautions that, because Bugbear arrives in an email attachment, it can pass through many firewalls.

SBC experts recommend that Internet users consider:

• Using virus removal tools available for free download from www.symantec.com or www.mcafee.com if they suspect Bugbear has already infected their computers;

• Installing virus protection software and updating its virus definitions, or updating their existing software’s virus definitions;

• Making sure that Internet browsers and e-mail programs are updated with patches that prevent known security issues

• Being cautious about unexpected email attachments without scanning them for viruses;

• Changing all passwords every 90 days;

• Turning off file sharing if not used on your home network;

• Backing up important computer files on an external storage device;

• For SBC Yahoo! DSL and Dial users, activating the services’ built-in virus scanner when opening an attachment through Web-based SBC Yahoo! Mail.

Previous system updates are available.