Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News

(Screenshot/The Daily Eastern News)

A virus spreading through the Eastern e-mail system has been contained.

Information Technology Services for the university sent out a campus-wide e-mail warning of a message with the subject line, "You have got a new E-Card from your friend."

The sender may have been "e-card," "american greeting" and "hallmark."

Since the virus is new, anti-virus programs may not recognize it, the ITS e-mail said.

Adam Dodge, information technology security officer and assistant director for information security, said the virus was a new variant of a virus that Symantec did not recognize.

If the e-mail or attachment were opened, the host computer may become infected with the virus.

He said when the virus is downloaded onto computers, it appears to get e-mail contacts and also downloads other adware and malware.

"ITS sent (Symantec) the virus and they released a rapid-response update," Dodge said.

Symantec identified the virus and updated their virus definitions to now include this virus.

ITS has not had to issue campus-wide e-mail alerts a lot in the past, he said.

"It is usually limited to one or two machines," Dodge said.

Randy Ethridge, a network engineer with ITS, said when Clean Access is reset today, on-campus residents would be required to have the most up-to-date anti-virus programs.

"The timing is good," Ethridge said. "Everyone is reset and has to log back on."

Clean Access resets every Thursday, he said.

For assistance with removing the virus, contact the ITS Help Desk at 581-4357 or the Housing Help Desk at 581-7708.


Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7942 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.

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