Life Stages, yet another new malicious virus in the wild

[Tony]

I'm sure that most of the IT members here will have already heard/suffered from this new virus, but here's some info for you anyhow. Take care with this one!

VBS/Stages: VBS/Stages is an Internet worm that utilizes the SHS file type (scrap file) to transfer its code. It spreads using multiple applications/software such as Microsoft Outlook, Pirch, mIRC, and available mapped drives. It arrives via e-mail with a scrap file attachment (LIFE_STAGES.TXT.SHS). When this file is executed, it invokes notepad to display a joke about the stages of life of both male and female.

Aliases: VBS/ShellScrape, VBS/Stages.A

Possible Subject line: "Fw: Life Stages", "Fw: Funny", "Fw: Jokes", "Fw: Life Stages text", "Fw: Funny text", "Fw: Jokes text", "Life Stages", "Funny", "Jokes", "Life Stages text", "Funny text", "Jokes text"

Possible Message text: "The male and female stages of life."

Attachment: LIFE_STAGES.TXT.SHS

[BrianF]

Got hit with it pretty bad in work....some people will open anything that drops into their inbox :(

Guess who had to do the clean-up?? Yours truly!!

On the subject of anti-virus - what do you guys find the best? I use McAfee which is OK, but is not as quick off the mark as Symmantec for getting out support for new viruses....(We got infected and had to wait until next morning for mcafee to get a fix)

[BrianS]

I use Symantec and find it pretty good. I also have SpyWare Doctor installed which is great for detecting dodgy cookies and the like.

Brian S.