The Billiken's Bluff

Stop reading this article. Log off the Bluff. Your computer is not safe. There's a virus going around out there - the virus, in fact - and it's spreading at an incredible rate. This new virus, known as the Sasser worm, has already affected millions of computers worldwide and is rapidly extending its reach. Sasser attacks recent versions of Microsoft Windows (XP, 2000, ME, etc) and forces the operating system to restart. The computer displays an error message explaining why it must restart the system. However, upon rebooting, the error message will appear again, forcing the computer into a near-constant state of rebooting. (There is no word yet as to the relationship between the Sasser virus and former Mets catcher Mackey Sasser but I'm sure that these details will be fleshed out in the coming days.)



What makes the Sasser virus so potent is that it spreads directly through the internet, unlike typical viruses that spread through e-mails and attachments. As a result, a system can become infected with little or no notice to the user. A computer may be behaving perfectly one moment and be infected with the virus the next. The most vulnerable users include those who are: running Windows XP or 2000, operating without a firewall or Windows patches, and have an internet connection that is always enabled.

Sasser has already begun to wreak havoc internationally, causing fear and panic throughout the world. In Taiwan, the national post office said that a third of its offices had been infiltrated by the virus, resulting in long, stationary lines at these offices. In Finland, the bank known as Samp closed all of its 130 local branch offices as a precautionary measure against the virus.



Fortunately for users, Sasser does not have any permanent effects, unlike the MyDoom and Bagle viruses that proliferated earlier this year. Those viruses attacked a user's hard drive once they infected a computer and corrupted or erased data from the disk. Sasser, on the other hand, does not have any of these damaging long-term effects, but can cause the user a great deal of aggravation in the short term.

The first step to safeguard your computer against Sasser is to check whether or not you already have the virus. Signs of infection include the creation of a file named C:\win.log and frequent crashes of LSASS.EXE. If your computer is Sasser-free, make sure that you protect it against potential infection by installing Windows' latest patches. To do so, go to the Windows Update website, click on 'Scan for Updates,' download and install any software listed as a 'Critical Update.' Computers with this Windows patch have a greatly-reduced risk of acquiring the virus. If you've already got the Sasser virus on your computer, download this patch from the good people at F-Secure.

Like the government says, there is only one way to completely avoid the virus: computer abstinence. But since finals are on the horizon and we all need to use our computers, exercise safe surfing. We're all adults here, seemingly capable of making our own decisions, but during this already-stressful period, be sure not to add to your headaches. Be safe and don't end up like these guys...




UPDATED: 5/4/04
Recent e-mails have been circulating offering a solution to the Sasser virus. These e-mails claim that their attachments will "fix" the Sasser problem. Do not download them. These files are actually another virus, Netsky A-C, which will infect your computer if you download it. These files are being put out by the same people who put out the Sasser virus and will only create more trouble for you.