"W32.Swen.A@mm" Worm Removal

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Dear ASDE Internet Customer,

There is yet another widespread worm that has infected customers on our service. The name of the virus is "W32.Swen.A@mm" It can infect any computer running a Microsoft operating system (i.e., Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows NT, Windows 2000.)

One of the ways this virus will spread is by an email that may pretend to be a critical message from Microsoft. Or it may be a message that impersonates a mail delivery failure notice. It can also spread through Kazaa (a music download program) and chat groups.

You do not have to run the email attachment to become infected. By just previewing the message, you can become infected. So delete the message before previewing or reading it.

The virus will attempt to shutdown your virus protection, so you are vulnerable to other viruses when infected with this virus. Symantec has a removal tool for this virus. The site to download the removal tool is:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.swen.a@mm.removal.tool.html

Following is a summary of what you should do to keep from being infected from this virus (or remove it if already infected.):

  1. Set up your email software to so it does not automatically preview your email messages. For instructions on how to close the preview pane in Outlook Express, click on the following URL:

    http://www.asde.net/support/win9x/preview/prevpane.html

    If you use another email software (other than Outlook Express,) contact the vendor of that software for instructions or use the help feature of that software (if it has one.)

  2. Delete any emails claiming to have security updates from Microsoft. (Microsoft does not send out individual emails to everyone!) Delete any messages claiming to be a delivery failure notice.

  3. If you suspect you are infected with the virus, download and run the removal tool. Click on the link below to go to Symantec's website to download the tool.

    W32.Swen.A@mm (The name of the removal tool is: "FixSwen.exe")

    You may want to print out the instructions too.

  4. Update your antivirus software for the latest virus definitions. Remember, if you are infected with this virus, it will attempt to "kill" the process so you may not be able to update until the virus has been removed.

  5. Keep your Windows updated by installing all the "CRITICAL" updates from Microsoft.

    Sincerely, ASDE Computer Services