Hi has anyone seen this 'virus'. Suddenly one of my MSN contacts will pop up with a message like "I have just seen a picture of you on facebook" or "check out my new car its a beauty" or "check out such a such link", its usually a RAR file so I steer clear and I sussed it first time as one the contact that popped up doesn't type in english so I don't have it or know what it does. It seems that all the contacts I get this from are avid facebook users and its getting on my nerves...anyone know any more or how I can advise them to get rid ?

No. I haven't gotten it. I don't use MSN or Facebook. So I think I'm fine.

MSN, as in MSN Instant Messager?

Yeh, it seems that all my contacts who use facebook and add applications have it

My sister and I both noticed that our computers run really slow after logging on to Facebook. I haven't been on there for a while because of this.

Yeh, I heard a lot of dodgy things about facebook and their terms and conditions so I never added any apps and steer clear now.

The basis is such a great idea and I have reconnected with a lot of people, but I don't want to kill my computer over it.

The virus itself does not get obtained by using Facebook or Messenger. Although, the virus uses those catchy phrases in order to atrract the other user of accept the file. It is usually sent in a ZIP file so MSN Messenger does not detect the file that is trying to be sent. I'm not sure what the file actually consists of, but it could easily be a Keylogger, or a backdoor, etc.

All in all it is probably best to not accept files you are unsure of, and give you're friend a shout if he is sending these messages that he may not even be aware of as they are automated. Just incase, a good free virus scanner is AVG. Works quite well and detects all virus' quite easily.

Thanks,

JJO

yes, I use eset and it flagged it immediately. I have told some of my contacts but they seem to be computer illiterate.

Some of my MSN contacts also do the same thing. They say stuff like "Is this a picture if you" and send you a file. I have never accepted any of them (thankfully). When ever it happens they don't have a contact picture.

Whenever i tell the person about it, i tell them to see if they got their password changed. It never is and they are able to change the password. Its not happening as much now.

It can get rather annoying

I fell for it once, and my msn got infected... when I went online, it automatically send messages to my contacts with embarassing message and the virus as well

There is a nasty MSN Messenger virus going around and all you have to do is add the contact to your list and your computer gets nuked by some kid overseas.