Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 14:48:39 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu>
To: <wsfalist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA]  Another Hazard of Electronic Life
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

The following is from the JHU Press IS Dept, hence the references to =
office pcs.  Yet another reason to kvetch about Mr Gates and his minions . =
. .

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This one is not a virus, but it certainly invades privacy, at least if you =
are unwary.  It appears to target Microsoft Outlook, which I hope no-one =
is using on their office computer, but please watch out for it both at =
home and in the office.  If you receive an e-card, click on a link and are =
prompted to install something, just say No!

According to Symantec, it is "a widespread e-card (electronic greeting =
card) that appears to have the characteristics of a worm."  When a person =
receives an email saying that he has received an e-card, and goes to the =
website to view it, he is prompted to install a program called "FriendGreet=
ings," distributed by "Permissioned Media Inc."  By consenting to the =
license agreement for the program, you give FriendGreetings permission to =
send emails to everyone in your Outlook address book.

Why this company would want to do so, I don't know.  Maybe just to promote =
their own products; maybe to collect addresses to sell to spammers.

According to Symantec, the suspicious email is as follows:

"Subject: [WSFA] %recipient% you have an E-Card from %sender%.
Message:
Greetings!

%sender% has sent you an E-Card -- a virtual postcard from [url deleted by =
MLK, who doesn't want to promote nuisances!]. You
can pickup your E-Card at [url deleted by MLK] by clicking on the link
below.

http://[url deleted MLK]

Message:
------------------------------------------------------------
%recipient%
I sent you a greeting card. Please pick it up.
%sender%