Everything you need to know about the VBS.LoveLetter.A virus. Fixes, patches, who it hit and how hard, and the avalanche of press releases that are pouring from the anti-virus industry.
This page and the links below will be updated as information becomes available.
Anti-virus companies report that the proliferation of variants has died down somewhat and claim that the virus is now under control.
The focus is now on identifying the culprit. Several national governments are trying to trace variants back to their source. It is now generally accepted that LoveLetter originated in the Philippines, although confusion arose after the first suspect was released because of insufficient evidence.
Cleaning tools are now available from a variety of vendors, and many are free.
The following variants have been reported: "Mothers Day Order Confirmation", "Dangerous Virus Warning", "Virus ALERT!!!", "No Comments", "Important! Read Carefully!!", "joke", with an attachment named "very funny.vbs". "Jesus loves you", "Lovecleaner.vbs", "VIRUS FIX - for the I LOVE YOU VIRUS!", "Susitikim shi vakara kavos puodukui...", "Hateletter.vbs", "FW: My Picture", "FW: joke", "FW: still breathing", "FW: Funny script", "FW: Fun Love". One variant has the apparent e-mail address "support@symantec.com."
At least on variant has an altered payload that targets critical files.
If you realise that the Love Letter virus or one of its variants has struck your computer or company, immediately disable your mail server or network connection. Do this by unplugging your modem or LAN; do not switch any computer off as restarting will aggravate the problem.
Love Letter is a self-propagating worm that will attempt to mail itself to others using your e-mail address book.
ITWeb stories:
Love virus tweakers understand humans
Love Letter costs millions
`Love` bytes, but there is a solution
A dangerous love letter
International stories:
Philippines say `Love Bug` may have begun as prank
World`s computer laws lag behind Internet changes
Philippine Officials detain man in `Love Bug` case
Philippine couple main `Love Bug` suspects; man held
Philippines says lacks law to arrest virus suspect
New Zealand Telecom deletes over 17,000 messages
Spread of `Love Bug` is scary, experts say
`Love Bug` spread from Philippine e-mail addresses
Press releases:
Computer Associates issues tips and techniques for virus protection in the wake of "I Love You" worm
Symantec provides free tool to repair damage from LoveLetter worm
Symantec detects all known variants of VBS.loveletter.A worm
Sophos warns of new Love Letter variants
VBS.LoveLetter.A protection available from Symantec
NetCom Solutions South Africa shields "Love" from customers
Symantec discovers new computer worm infecting thousands
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