Fact Check

Reeezak Virus

Information about the Reeezak worm.

Published Dec. 19, 2001

Claim:

Virus:   A message wishing the recipient a Happy New Year with an attached file of Christmas.exe contains a virus.


Status:   Real.

Example:   [Collected on the Internet, 2001]




Subject: Hii

I can't describe my feelings
But all i can say is
Happy New Year :)
bye

Attachment: Christmas.exe



Origins:   Christmas.exe attachment to the message shown above is mass-mailing worm known as Reeezak that replicates itself by sending messages from infected users' PCs via Microsoft Outlook and MSN Messenger. It will also attempt to modify a user's start page in Internet Explorer, delete anti-virus software, and spread itself through network shares.

If your PC has been infected, Reeezak should be easy to remove with an anti-virus program such as Norton AntiVirus. See the Computer Associates page linked below for additional information.

Additional Information:



    Goner   Reeezak   (Computer Associates)

Last updated:   29 January 2008


David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.