# Virus warning.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-warning/203649>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [September 24, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-warning/203649 "2003-09-24T23:15:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-warning/203649/1 "2003-09-24T23:15:32Z")

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I got 8 copies of this virus in my spam e-mail account today. It has a way of activating automatically on preview even if you don’t open any attachments.

I have seen a few posts here that might suggest other dopers are getting these viruses so I feel this is worth posting (sorry if it has already been posted)

My very reliable non-spam account provider sent an e-mail warning of the virus, with a link to information and a removal app.

> [@](#):
>
> The virus W32.Swen.A@mm is currently causing many problems throughout the world and  
> now on the [removed name for security] network, this is a mass-mailing worm that poses as a legitimate  
> email from Microsoft Windows Update.
> 
> In depth information about the virus is available online at :  
> [http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM\_SWEN.A](http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM_SWEN.A) including  
> a link to download a removal tool.
> 
> You should read our guide to online protection for information and links to many  
> solutions to protect your PC, at the very least you must ensure you have some  
> up-to-date anti-virus software on your machine. We can see a very large increase in  
> email network traffic at present, and any customers that we can identify as having  
> this virus we are trying to contact.
> 
> Please share this news with any of your family or friends who may be vulnerable, as  
> it is proving difficult to contact everyone. We are working as quickly as we can to  
> ensure this does not cause too many problems on our network generally.

the link again in case it didn’t work in the quoted text

[http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM\_SWEN.A](http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM_SWEN.A)