Email Virus Alert- Hackers exploit crisis in Burma!!

WARNING: Please be aware, that according to Sophos (a leading anti-virus company) an email purporting to be from the Dalai Lama, supporting the pro-democracy efforts in Burma, is actually a malicious Trojan virus. Do not open, for any reason!!

The email contains the following text:

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

Please find enclosed a massage from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in support of the recent pro-democracy demonstrations taking place in Burma. This is for your information and can be distributed as you see fit.

Best wishes.

Tenzin Taklha Joint
Secretary Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Sophos claims that:

When users open the attached document (filename: hhdl burma_001.doc), it attempts to exploit a Word vulnerability which in turn tries to drop a Trojan horse onto the victim's PC. Sophos proactively detects the malicious document as Exp/1Table-B and the Trojan it tries to install as Agent-CGU.

The email actually links to the Dalai Lamas website, to add legitimacy to the content of the email.

This is the height of vileness: exploiting a humanitarian crisis knowing full well that people will be tempted to open the document in an effort to keep up to date with information regarding the worsening situation in Burma, and to show solidarity with the Burmese people's valiant efforts to bring democracy to their country.

Totally despicable!!