Antivirus companies are on alert as new Mytob variants appear and threaten to collapse entire computer networks. Over the past two weeks alone, four variants have been detected by software companies.

	WEEKLY REPORTS Solutions, Prevention & Remedies Top 10 Threats

One of the latest variants, Mytob.bi, tricks users into opening an infected e-mail by simulating a warning from an IT administrator. Subject lines of infected e-mails could read, "*IMPORTANT* Please Validate Your Email Account" or "Notice: **Last Warning**."

Once the threat has infiltrated your computer, it scans the hard drive and sends copies of itself to the e-mail addresses found in your Windows Address Book. The threat also prevents users from accessing antivirus software and Web sites. Another major worry is that the virus could have numerous backdoor capabilities which would allow a hacker to access the infected machine remotely.

Members of the Mytob worm family have been able to remain present on antivirus company watch lists for several months because of the worm's easily manipulated code, making it immensely popular with hackers who create and release variants.

Information, Protection and Prevention - Mytob worm family:

• Mytob.BI
• Mytob.EC
• Mytob.EB
• Mytob.DW
• Mytob.DN

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* Reading: Solutions, Prevention & Remedies
Additional summary information related to a specific type of solution or prevention that you should be considering. Depending upon the week, this section may have:
• Recent Windows security releases from Microsoft
• Recent updates to widely used anti-spyware programs
• Recent updates to widely used anti-virus programs
• Recent updates to other security programs & devices (ex: Firewalls, routers)
• Recent updates to various applications in wide use

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Read: Top Threats
These are viruses that are currently on the watch lists of major anti-virus software companies.

Name
What the threat is called. We use the name given each virus by Panda Software. Sometimes other anti-virus companies give the same threat a different name. Usually they use similar names.

Type
There are different characteristics associated with different types of threats.
• Virus - has the ability to replicate or infect computers or other programs
• Trojan Horse (or Trojan) - appear to be harmless programs when you get them. They unleash their payload when you double-click, open, or execute them.
• Phishing - a Web site or e-maill message posing as another company - usually one you know to fool you into giving the sender personal information.
• Worm - self replicates onto additional disks, computers or networks
• Spyware - installs on your system to collect information about your activity, preferences or interests
• Hoax - false messages sent by e-maill to mislead the recipient
• Backdoors - opens a security hole that allows outsiders to take control of your computer
• Dialer - uses your telephone to dial an outside number - sometimes a number that costs you money when dialed

Affects
Not all viruses affect all types of systems. Some, for example may affect only Windows 98 and 95, but not Windows XP or NT. Others affect all Windows systems, but not Macintosh. In this column, we show you the consumer systems that the threat is known to affect. We don't always include the servers that operate in your company's backroom.

Alert level
The level of awareness that anti-virus vendors suggest you need to have for each threat listed.
For each threat listed, we'll post a corresponding link here, so you can get more information to help you recognize, diagnose, prevent, and repair the problem.