W32.IRCBrute Notice

2008 November 5
tags: ,
by Peter

Several colleges and departments on campus have recently experienced an outbreak of the W32.IRCBrute worm virus. This virus is transferred to computers via infected USB flash (thumb) drives. If the virus successfully infects a computer, it will make the computer vulnerable to an attacker accessing the machine to send out junk mail or attack other computers inside and outside the University.

If you use a USB flash drive on campus, we highly recommend you scan the flash drive and your computer using your antivirus software. For instructions on using Symantec AntiVirus to perform a scan, see the OIT Help Desk’s website.

Complete details about the W32.IRCBrute virus can be found at http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2008-062014-2448-99

Please contact the Help Desk at 426-HELP (4357) or email us at helpdesk@boisestate.edu if you have reason to believe your computer is infected.

One Response leave one →
  1. 2008 November 7
    Patrick (Peter) permalink

    If you run into a situation with an Access Denied message accessing your USB Thumb drive here’s a ‘work-around’ to get to your USB thumb files:

    1) plug in USB flash drive…wait to see if drivers need to build on the pc
    2) once ready (if the default pop-up navigation window doesn’t appear on the desktop, or if it does
    but then you get the above error when you try to access it)
    3) navigate to ‘My Computer’ or use hot keys: Press the Windows Logo Key (bottom left of your keyboard between Ctrl and Alt keys) and the “E” key simultaneously.
    4) USB flash drive will appear as ‘Removable Disk’ (various drive letters depending upon the pc)
    5) R-click that ‘removable drive’ (it may ref it by vendor name such as ‘KINGSTON’ or ‘CRUCIAL’ etc.)
    6) then, ‘Auto Play’ (NOT ‘Open’ which is at the top of the menu)
    7) then ‘Open Folder to View Files’…lower down in the OSD menu
    8) Bingo! = you should see your folders/files on the USB Flash drive…
    9) select & click what you need to open…

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