Date: August 16, 2005
Subject: ZOTOB worm

Over the weekend a new virus was released that takes advantage of security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows that were announced by Microsoft last week. Sophos Labs (a global network of virus analysis centers) has reported that the ZOTOB worm would allow a hacker to gain access and remote control of the infected computer. Unlike other worm viruses the ZOTOB worm does not spread via email but through computers connected through local area networks such as those found in most offices.

To protect yourself from this and other viral threats to your computer please take the following precautions:

1 - Ensure that all security updates available for your operating system have been installed. For users of Microsoft Windows 98 or later you can follow the link below to scan your computer for available updates:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

2 - Ensure that you have installed an antivirus program, such as Norton Antivirus or AVG Antivirus, and that its virus definition files are kept up to date.

For further information on the ZOTOB worm please visit the following link which will take you to the Sophos website:

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this or any other issue.

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