Fraudulent Email about Sen. Barack Obama’s Victory Being Used to Compromise Windows Workstations.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008

CSSD has received reports that spammers are sending messages to University email addresses with titles like “Obama Wouldn’t Be First Black President” to entice recipients to visit a Web site that downloads software intended to compromise a user’s computer. Once compromised, the malicious software attempts to steal files with confidential information and upload them to computers overseas.

CSSD strongly recommends that students, faculty, and staff avoid replying to messages from unknown senders and avoid clicking on any Web links in such messages.

CSSD also recommends that all users install Symantec AntiVirus software and use the LiveUpdate feature to get the latest virus definitions. Symantec AntiVirus is available at no cost to students, faculty, staff, and departments from CSSD Software Distribution Services, 105 Bellefield Hall, and can also be downloaded from software.pitt.edu.

The following is a sample of the fraudulent email.

Subject: Obama Wouldn’t Be First Black President
From: Elections Result Center news@unitedstates.com
Date: 6:38 am

Barack Obama Elected 44th President of the United States

Barack Obama, unknown to most Americans just four years ago, will become the 44th president and the first African-American president of the United States.

Watch His amazing speech at November 5!

Proceed to the election results news page>>

2008 American Government Official Website

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