What is the Melissa (Mail-lisa) virus?
A.The attached Premier alert describes the Melissa virus that is effecting email users worldwide. While the Melissa virus itself does not do real damage to a person’s PC system or to MS Word, the virus replicates by email and thus can create a mail storm. This mail storm will impact any messaging environment and the overall impact will be dependent on the number of mail messages a person or company lets through. Multiple alerts have also been published by CERT – or Computer Emergency Response Team, the CIAC – Computer Incident Advisory Capability, and the NIPC – National Infastructure Protection Center, and the FBI. The most comprehensive notices and means of protection/prevention can be found at the CERT & CIAC sites: http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-99-04-Melissa-Macro-Virus.html and http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/j-037.shtml These sites are being updated regularly. Microsoft believes the best defense is a strong offense. This means aggressive action should be taken to limit the
