All of my friends have been IM'ing me this virus - I haven't seen this under a topic so I'm posting it.

You'll receive an IM from someone with the wording similar to this "Hey check out this. If you are dumb and careless enough to click it you get this virus that will forward the message to everyone on your buddy list. I haven't asked my friends what else the virus does, but I'm just letting you all know. This may not be a devastating virus, but don't fall prey to these internet goofballs!!!

Yeah, there was a virus like that on MSN. However, the person that you were talking to usually has no control over the virus. It plants itself and reproduces itself automatically. A lot of people aren't aware that they have it, unfortunately.

However, just to be safe, I never accept any files or links unless I know exactly what they are. I've had a couple of these viruses before, myself.

Some of them can be extremely dangerous. One of the viruses on MSN was actually a worm.

To be safe on chat clients, be sure to never accept files or click links unless you know what they are. Also, look out for file extentsions when someone sends you a file.

If it has a strange file name and/or file type, don't accept it. Warn your friend about it if they don't know.

The same goes for all websites and download clients. Unless you know what it is... DON'T CLICK IT!

its amazing how they attack msn and aim and not slam yahoo with viruses i seen the hacks but then their is the email viruses oooh

so ask you're friends what "this" is before clicking anything. Also, make sure you disable automatic downloads of malware! You can do this in spybot S&D easily.

yeah, like what psychic said, ask what "this" is before clicking it. and thanks for the heads up. I wonder if anyone does it on yim... then i'd better be careful 0_o

hehe, i got a few of those messages... all been ignored and i warned the people who were infected on my list... thanx

Umm yea so I was dumb and careless enough to click on the link and now my AIM is telling me that my password is invalid and it wont recognize it which keeps me from signing on to Aim. If you have any tips on what to do please let me know.

I've recieved this from two of my friends, but I was warned by another that it was a virus going around. This is an exploit vulnerable in Internet Explorer and I'm not sure about the earlier version of Firefox, but it doesn't work in 1.4. What happens is the .jpg image is coded in a certain way as to download a program and run it without you realizing it before it's too late. The program then sends it to everyone on your buddy list.

And as for some tips on how to prevent things like this from happening:
1. Get Firefox 1.4
2. Upgrade Internet Explorer to the latest version (they've patched it in the newer one)

Thanks very much for this very important information.

As has already been said, a similar virus was spreading through MSN messenger not so long ago, and it is unnerving to think AIM can be affected aswell.

I am not the type of person to accept random links, but i will certainly be on my guard.

ok, so asuming that the person, or thing who changed your password didn't change your email address, go to the lost password area by clicking Here or https://opr.my.screenname.aol.com/_cqr/opr/opr.psp or if u feel better there and try to submit it that way. If u do not get an email with the password then all you can do is get a new account and tell all of your friends to delete the other one of their buddy lists and start fresh

Here is what AOL says