NewsFlash #126

Tyler Net is constantly battling internet security issues, which include email viruses. Recently, an attachment in an email was opened in error, and consequently, a small number of our employee and company PCs were infected with a virus.

Similar to other malware, this particular virus uses email contacts on the infected PC to spread the virus to other PCs.

Since many of you are in our email contacts, we want to make sure that you take the proper precautions to avoid a similar situation.

Please use extreme caution when opening an email with ‘Invoice’, ‘Payment’, or an invoice number anywhere in the subject line of the email (the exact subject text varies from email to email). Opening the email does not spread the virus, but opening the Microsoft Word attachment could infect your PC.

Here are a few sample subject lines of infected emails:

• ‘Payment Advice for Outstanding Invoices 10-13-18’
• ‘No. TPN-03-86094 Your Name’
• ‘PAYMENT DT-68-84764’
• ‘INVOICES DO NOT QUOTE VALID NUMBERS’
• ‘Order Confirmation 36848301’

Again, opening the Microsoft Word attachment could infect your PC. Virus protection software will help, but it is better to avoid opening the emails entirely.

As an extra level of security, Tyler Net will now call you before emailing an invoice to your company. We will provide you with the exact information that the email will contain: the sender, the email subject, title of the attachment, etc.

We take security seriously and are in the process of upgrading our email server and virus protection measures to help avoid this situation in the future. We ask that you consider doing the same.

Thank you for your patience and please contact us with any questions or concerns that you have.