Conch-Lers, this warning is real.  It swept through our county government offices Fri. just before quitting time.  Here is the message that we had waiting at work this morning.  If you do not open the attachment and delete it, you should be okay.
Lucy
Houston, TX
 
 
 
 
> ----------
> From: ExchangeAdmin
> Reply To:     Greer, Kim
> Sent: Sunday, March 28, 1999 1:44 PM
> To:   .AllSBISD; De Siena, Bobbi
> Subject:      IMPORTANT MESSAGE - VIRUS ALERT
> Importance:   High
> 
> A computer virus has been reported, and Technology Services personnel has
> verified the existence of the virus via several valid sources, including
> the Carnegie Melon Software Engineering Instutute's CERT Coordination
> Center and the US Dept. of Energy - Computer Incident Advisory Capability
> (CIAC).  THIS VIRUS IS NOT A HOAX.
> 
> The virus is referred to as the Melissa Word Macro Virus.
> 
> It is received in the form of an Email message entitled Important Message
> from "name" ("name" = the name of the last person who received the message
> and opened the attachment).  The text inside the message reads . . . "Here
> is that document you asked for . . . don't show anyone else ;-)".  It
> includes an attachment named list.doc.  When this attachment is opened,
> the computer is infected.  Some of the results are:
> 
>       - the message is immediately sent from you to the first 50 names in
> each of your Address Books
>       - the time on your computer is changed to the date of your computer.
>               For example, if the date is 3/28, then the time on your
>               computer will show as 3:28
>       - macros and settings in your MS Word program are automatically
> changed,
>               and the template for all new documents is infected
> 
> IF YOU RECEIVE SUCH AN EMAIL MESSAGE, DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY.
> 
> IF YOU HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED SUCH AN EMAIL, YOU MAY TAKE THE FOLLOWING
> STEPS TO PREVENT YOURSELF FROM RECEIVING IT:
> 
>       In your Outlook client, click Tools from the menu bar
>       Click Out of Office Assistant
>       Click the Add Rule button
>       Leave the From... and Sent To... fields blank
>       Check both the Sent Directly to Me and Copied (Cc) to me boxes
>       In the Subject: field, type  Important Message from
>       In the Message Body: field, type Here is that document you asked for
>       Check the Delete box option under the action items
>       Click the OK button
>       Ensure that the status box for the rule is checked in the list
>       Click the OK button
> 
> The virus was discovered at approximately 2:00 p.m. GMT on Friday, March
> 26th.  For more information on this virus, please visit the following web
> sites:
> 
>       http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-99-04-Melissa-Macro-Virus.html
> 
>       http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/j-037.shtml
> 
> 
>