"It`s obvious from the new wave of virus `attacks` that the Melissa story isn`t over," says Dimension Data Security MD Mark Danton. According to Danton the `ExploreZip` virus works in the same way as Melissa - it arrives looking like an email from someone you know and then, once the attachment is opened, it forwards itself to people in your address book. "The code for Melissa was made publicly available before the originator was caught. This means that, by now, there could be any number of versions of the virus ready to strike," Danton explains.
With each new strain the AV vendors will have to develop a new fix. Scanning emails for keywords is a faster `root and branch` approach to the situation. "It means that all we have to do is add a new set of search terms (in this case, `I received your email and shall send you a reply ASAP. Till then take a look at the attached zipped documents`) and the email in question will be quarantined before it even reaches the desktop," says Danton. Dimension Data Security`s supplier, Content Technologies has already published a keyword identification programme for all MAILsweeper users. Users just have to email a specially set up secure address (melissa@mimesweeper.com) to protect themselves." For more information, please visit Content Technologies` Web site at www.mimesweeper.com.
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