A virus hidden within an attachment activates when you click on the document. The virus spreads using Microsoft Outlook, and what's especially damaging about this one is that it also erases the hard drive of the computer that triggers it. This is just getting silly. I'll bet the virus protection companies didn't see all of this coming when they offered free upgrades online. Then again, maybe they are doing well with all of these new viruses.
People come to the sites like crazy to update, and the sites sell advertising.
I had a wonderful discussion with a friend of mine over the latest email virus scare. She is just positive that the latest run of viruses is the precursor to a huge cyber- terrorism plot. She believes that somewhere in the world, a group of people is discussing how they can release the digital Andromeda Strain. It is my opinion that the majority of the viruses being thrown around at this point are not really meant to cause great harm. I think the authors of the viruses are still at the point where they are just trying to outdo one another.