Unbeknownst to many on the University of Denver campus, a new computer virus hit the school via e-mail last Monday afternoon.

The virus is the mass-mailing worm, w32.novarg.a@mm, also known as W32/MyDoom-A. This virus spread very quickly through the DU campus.

“By midnight we had identified the viruses on 64 different computers,” said Bob Stocker of University Technology Services Network Security.

“To date, we have blocked network access for 113 computers. Of these, 64 have been cleaned and their network access has been restored. Blocked computers that try to access an external Web site receive a warning page telling them about the virus,” said Stocker. One way or another, almost everyone’s e-mail has been affected by the virus.

“They may have received the virus and gotten infected. They may have received the virus and not have been infected. They may have received replies to messages on which their e-mail address was forged.”

“Or they may just have been impacted by the e-mail all traffic generated by the above activities,” said Stocker.

A second attack was discovered late last week with a different variation on the same virus. This newer virus is called W32.Mydoom.B@mm. This virus is very similar to the aforementioned virus and spread to the campus the same way.

To protect your computer, do not open e-mail attachments of which you do not know the subject or do not expect, no matter whether or not you know the sender. Also, update the anti-virus software on your computer as soon as possible.