As if University students don’t have enough e-mails lingering in their mailboxes, a recent virus is adding more messages to sift .
The e-mails, which reach students through their subscribed listservs, have subject headings warning that there is an “online user violation” or that the e-mail account will be closed. Once opened, the e-mails contain no message.
“They’re cluttering my mailbox,” said Lucy Witt, a sophomore biology major. “I’ve got one from every single listserv I’m on. I’m confused as to why they haven’t notified students.”
Kevin Lyles, a sophomore business major, agreed.
“I think they’re annoying, and I would like to know the root of the problem,” he said.
According to Chris Columb, director of messaging for Information Technology Services, the e-mails are a result of a family of global viruses known as Mytob.
“It’s one of a series of viruses going around,” he said. “We have to go after every single one of them because we don't which will be the next to do some major damage.”
The Mytob virus spreads by sending e-mails with infected attachments.
“The big thing with these e-mails is not to click on the attachment,” Columb warned.