Sometimes people need a deadline before they’ll take action on a given project. If you don’t have a virus protection program with regular updates running on your computer, you now have a deadline. It’s January 6, 2006.

All computers should already be running updated virus protection software. The date mentioned above is important because the latest version of a prolific Internet pest called the Sober worm is set to make its debut on that day. This particular worm uses infected e-mail to take control of unprotected computers. Computers that fall victim to this pest can automatically send out additional infected e-mails to addresses stored within its memory.

This latest version will join a host of other Sober worms that debuted in 2003. While not as destructive as some other computer bugs, Sober worms have proven to be successful at duplicating themselves over the Internet to promote a sinister agenda.

According to on-line security experts, the Sober worm seems to be the work of German Nazi-party sympathizers. The dates for the worms’ attacks often coincide with important dates for the party. In the case of January 6, it’s the day the party was founded in 1919. Besides coinciding with important dates for the Nazi-party, earlier versions of the Sober worm would send e-mails that directed recipients to right-wing based web sites.

Fortunately, there is a way to protect your computer from this threat. Make sure you have a virus protection program installed and check to ensure you’re receiving regular updates from the company that developed it. Without the updates, your computer could be vulnerable to an attack on January 6. It’s worth noting that HunTel.net scans e-mail for viruses sent to your HunTel.net email addresses. While this offers a good deal of protection, a secondary layer is still important to have. Also, if you use a non-HunTel.net e-mail account, our virus filter will be of no assistance in protecting you from this or any other threat you receive through that account. Receiving an infected e-mail is just one of several ways for a computer virus to attack your computer. For these reasons, it’s essential to have updated virus protection software installed on your system.

If you have any questions regarding the Sober worm, computer viruses in general, or other Internet related topics, please contact our tech support team at 533-5777 (Washington County/Omaha) or 1-888-491-9115 (toll-free statewide). You can also send us an e-mail at techsupport@huntel.net.

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