NeXDesigns 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2005 (edited) I have just had about 5 contacts send me a link in about 2 minutes and then their computer crash right afterwards.Im not positive if it is a virus, but the file extention tells me it is.g.geurts1/handcuffs.pifBe cautious around these files, they may be harmful to your computer, so ask before you click!Ive heard that it is an automated program that send out the links through your buddylist and then crashes your computer.Moderator Edit: Link Masked to prevent damage to users, or users who will use it for harming people. Edited December 16, 2016 by OpaQue (see edit history) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropout21 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2005 appreciate the heads up. how does it work at what versions does it effect/spawn from? it is a security hole in the msn7.0 beta? and does it affect the older ones? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lyon 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2005 Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeXDesigns 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2005 not sure, from what i see just anyone who clicked on it, sent it to everyone on their buddylist, and then crashed.One solution is you can use system restore, that seems to work well.and it worked on msn 7 and msn 6. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maddog39 0 Report post Posted February 15, 2005 Guys I get these emails all the time with the '.pif' extension. These are deadly files. I dont even know where .pif came from or even what its really for. So juts stay away from it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hansley 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2005 Wait a minute, so the link only being sent via msn???Or it could also to any messenger, and possibly email?In that case, you should change the name of the topic...Btw, thank you very much for the information, really helps me. Hope that it won't happen to me... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Florisjuh 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2005 w00t I have that file somewhere :\ I'll delete it right away, thanks for info... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CodeName_88 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2005 Could this infect you through the MSN messenger function of trillian? or is this just the browser program?Because .pif is an image format(IIRC) and ive gotten a lot of links to that or similar files, and i was worried if it worked through trilian since one of my computer non-literate parents might click it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Good Grief Graphics 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2005 Could this infect you through the MSN messenger function of trillian? or is this just the browser program? Â Because .pif is an image format(IIRC) and ive gotten a lot of links to that or similar files, and i was worried if it worked through trilian since one of my computer non-literate parents might click it 51437[/snapback] Image format? It's a format that is non-windows but lets windows run it or osmething like that. I think you're thinking .pdf, whcih is an image format. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeXDesigns 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2005 Im not sure if it effects the trillian contacts, but it will crash your computer on anything you use, and if you click the link on this page it will do it, i might test it on one of my older computers that i dont use to see what it does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GuySpook 0 Report post Posted February 17, 2005 .pif extension definitions:.pif-----0S/2 Graphics Metafile.pif-----Macintosh Compressed File Archive.pif-----IBM PIF Drawing.pif-----GDF Format Vector Image.pif-----Windows Program Information File <Most Likely Your Welcome, GuySpook Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeXDesigns 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2005 i just checked all my computers and found many viruses on all of them, i suggest using trend micro because all my installed antivirus software didnt see it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
talbotda13 0 Report post Posted February 25, 2005 Thanks for the heads up. i will scan my computer to see if i have any viruses. i hope i dont. i barely use msn but when i do i will keep a look out on any possible virus thingers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dooga 0 Report post Posted February 25, 2005 My tip is to message back the user who sent you the link. The virus will send this link with something like "http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/; with the message like "omfg" or "rofl" "lol" "omg" etc. Please do not click on those! And avoid posting the actual link in the forums, because some people might accidentally click on it. At least, don't use the /url tag for the link. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites