Email virus warning

There is an email virus spreading on the Internet called "W32.Klez.gen@mm". This virus is spread in email attachments that have random filenames ending in one of the following extensions: .BAT .EXE .PIF .SCR. Your computer is vulnerable if you have Outlook or Outlook Express installed. If you receive the infected attachment and try to open it, your computer will be infected. This worm will mail copies of itself to addresses found in your Outlook email address book.

You will usually receive this virus from someone you know because your name is in their email address book.

My advice: Practice safe computing. Never open any email attachments unless the sender has previously arranged to send it to you and told you specifically what the filename will be. Particularly, do not open attachments that end in any of these extensions: .BAT .EXE .PIF or .SCR. It is the last three letters of the filename that count.

If someone sends you one of these attachment with no prior arrangement, do not open it. Send back a message asking them about the attachment, what it is and why they sent it. Then delete their message. Explain that you never open attachments unless you receive prior notification. If it is legitimate, ask them to send it again.

There are anti-virus sites on the web that can help if your computer has been infected. For instance, go to www.symantec.com and check the Latest Threats section for a removal tool.