If you receive an email similar to the following, do not respond:

Dear Webmail User,The Helpdesk Program that periodically checks the size of your e-mailspace is sending you this information. The program runs weekly to ensureyour inbox does not grow too large, thus preventing you from receiving orsending new e-mail. As this message is being sent, you have 18 megabytes(MB) or more stored in your inbox. To help us reset your space in ourdatabase,please enter your current user name(_________________) password(_______________)You will receive a periodic alert if your inbox size is between 18 and 20MB. If your inbox size is 20 MB, a program on your Webmail will move youroldest e-mails to a folder in your home directory to ensure you cancontinue receiving incoming e-mail. You will be notified this has takenplace. If your inbox grows to 25 MB, you will be unable to receive newe-mail and it will be returned to sender. All this is programmed to ensureyour e-mail continues to function well. Thank you for your cooperation.Help Desk.Important:

Email Account Verification Update ! ! !

Do not fall for this kind of scam. If you are questioning if a request for information, account info, passwords, etc. is real. Ask us. We’re happy to help.

About The Conficker Worm

The Conficker worm (set to “strike” today) has been receiving much coverage. Most antivirus software could detect and block the Conficker worm, so if you have updated antivirus software on your computer, you are at a much lower risk of being infected by the Conficker worm. To be sure your departmental WINDOWS computer is up to date, locate the McAfee icon in your System Tray (bottom right) and select “Update Now…”(see attached below).

What if your department computer becomes infected with the Cornficker Worm? 

Definitely let us know if you suspect that your department PC is infected. If your computer is infected with the Conficker worm, you may be unable to download certain security products, such as the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool or accessing certain Web sites, such as Microsoft Update.

As always, with questions email support@chemistry.ohio-state.edu. For more info on this security theat, visit here: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx

It is always a good idea to be vigilant, make sure doors and property are secure, and to look out for one another. See incident below from yesterday:

The Department has received a report of an unidentified person inside
Smith Lab RM1132. (Gramila Cryostat Lab)

The person was met and questioned by a graduate student while leaving
the lab on Saturday at approximately 3:30 pm.

The person is described as a tall, African-American male, wearing a dark
jumpsuit.

Based on the description/lack of uniform, location, and time, FOD
reports that this was not likely one of their staff.

Although no items are reported missing, a University Police report has
nonetheless been filed.

Occupants will recall past periods of increased incidents of theft and
are encouraged to heighten their awareness.

—
Jenny Finnell
Assistant to Dr. Arthur J. Epstein; Synthetic Metals Editorial Assistant
The Ohio State University Department of Physics
191 W. Woodruff Ave. #2188, Columbus, OH 43210-1117
Phone:  614-292-4443, E-mail:  finnell@mps.ohio-state.edu

Becky Gregory alerts us to a potential virus threat this morning. Her notice is useful, and a reminder to be vigilant when choosing which mail to trust and which to seek help about.

She received an email regarding tracking a package via UPS- with an attachment. She did not order a package and the zip file is most likely a virus. It is best to delete these emails immediately or, as in Becky’s case, send us an email. See below.

Descriptions

Following a spate of viruses purporting to be about undelivered UPS parcels, we are receiving some virus messages which seem to be targeted at University mail recipients. It looks something like this:

Attachment: ReIn86192.zip

Subject: UPS: Your Tracking #(long number)

Sorry, we were not able to deliver postal package you sent on November the 25th in time because the recipient’s address is not correct.

Please print out the invoice copy attached and collect the package at our office.
If you do not receive package in ten days you will have to pay 36$ per day.

Your UPS Support Team

---

Do NOT open attachments, and do NOT reply. Thanks for the notification Becky. Raising alerts like this, and informing everyone keeps us all safer from these kinds of threats.

There is an e-mail circulating extensively, if my account is any indication.   It appears to be from ‘The Ohio State University’ with the subject ‘news’. The content is simple (note that URL has been modified to render it unusable):

“Please read our latest news and information: http://webmail.osu-edu.xxx/et cetera. Ohio State University ”

When the user clicks on the URL, an exact copy of the OSU Webmail page displays.  If the unwitting user types their username and password, the credentials are harvested immediately.

Do not click this link or respond to this email message should you receive it.

If you receive an email from Microsoft like the following:

Dear Microsoft Customer,
Please notice that Microsoft company has recently issued a Security Update
for OS Microsoft Windows. The update applies to the following OS versions:
Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Millenium,
Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista.

please delete it and do not open any attached files. Our security updates are handled automatically by our Windows system and any request to install or execute a file from any vendor is most likely a scam.

Feel free to ask if you receive such emails. Better to be safe than sorry and we’re happy to help provide information about what is real and what is a virus, scam, etc.

It is better to be safe than sorry. IF you are unsure of the validity of an email you receive, especially if the email asks for account information, run it by computer support to see if it is real. The latest such scam may have shown up in your inbox this morning entitiled:

“Final Upgrades/Account Verification Required Urgently.”

Delete the email and forget about it. 99.99999% such emails are a scam…. and never give out your username, password, or any other senstive data.