Virtual Postcard Email Virus Attack

Doesn't everyone liking getting an unexpected greeting card? That's certainly what the criminals who sent this email hope.

The email below says you've received a virtual greeting card but what you've really received is an attempt to place a virus on your computer.

How can you tell? Notice the link you're told to click ends in ".exe" That means that clicking this link will actually run a program on your computer. The program will install a virus on your PC. The virus might be there to steal your online banking passwords or send out SPAM emails that will look like they are coming from you. In either case, you don't want this virus on your PC.

If you've already clicked the link on this or similar emails we highly recommend getting at least a free virus scan of you PC. This can tell you if you've been infected and what you can do if you have.

The actual email is included below (link has been changed so it won't work).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: received@postcard.org [mailto:received@postcard.org]
Sent: 03/25/2008 7:17 PM
To: articles@riverbankconsulting.com
Subject: You have just received a virtual postcard from a friend !


You have just received a virtual postcard from a friend !


You can pick up your postcard at the following web address:

http://ubilab.sunmoon.ac.kr/xxxxxx/postcard.gif.exe

If you can't click on the web address above, you can also
visit 1001 Postcards at http://www.postcards.org/postcards/
and enter your pickup code, which is: d21-sea-sunset

(Your postcard will be available for 60 days.)

Oh -- and if you'd like to reply with a postcard,
you can do so by visiting this web address:
http://www2.postcards.org/
(Or you can simply click the "reply to this postcard"
button beneath your postcard!)

We hope you enjoy your postcard, and if you do,
please take a moment to send a few yourself!

Regards,
1001 Postcards
http://www.postcards.org/postcards

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If you received an email like this, the safest thing to do is just delete it. If you have already clicked on the link you may have unknowingly downloaded a harmful PC virus. You should scan your PC for viruses now to check for spyware or any other malware.

If you don't have anti-virus software we recommend McAfee Security or PCSecurity Shield. Both provide great anti-virus protection at affordable prices.

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