Melissa
Originally Spotted 19/1/01

E-Mail Message Received (please note different mails may differ slightly)

Melissa uses a random subject to try and hide itself. The known titles as of today are:

Important Message From xxxxx"
Here is the document you asked for .. don't show anyone else ;-)

Question for you...
It's fairly complicated so I've attached it.

Check this!!
This is some wicked stuff!

Cool Web Sites
Check out the Attached Document for a list of some of the best Sites on the Web

80mb Free Web Space!
Check out the Attached Document for details on how to obtain the free space. It's cool, I've now got heaps of room.

Cheap Software
The attached document contains a list of web sites where you can obtain Cheap Software

Cheap Hardware
I've attached a list of web sites where you can obtain Cheap Hardware"

Free Music
Here is a list of places where you can obtain Free Music.

Free Downloads
Here is a list of sites where you can obtain Free Downloads.

pictures (user name)
Body: what's up ?

Extremely URGENT: To All E-Mail User - <current date>
This announcement is for all E-MAIL user. Please take note that our E-Mail Server will down and we recommended you to read the document which attached with this E-Mail.
Attachment: <infected active document>

Diagnosis

This is a serious risk as when infected it sends itself out to everyone in your address book (if using Outlook) and also infects your Word documents. These can cause other machines to be infected if you e-mail or send on disk these infected documents. When the virus activates it modifies user's documents by inserting comments from the "The Simpsons" and on PCs can send out information relating to your computer. Later variations of the virus can also wipe your disk if PC based.

The probable reason for this viruses appearance after a long dormant period is the release of Outlook for the Mac. Many Mac users may have had infected documents from the initial outbreak in March 1999 but as the virus mainly relied on Outlook to spread didn't realise. However now Outlook is available we are starting to see more and more instances of the virus.

If you receive this please delete it immediately