Melissa virus goes global

Published: 31 March 1999 y., Wednesday
MeThe Melissa computer virus, discovered only last Friday,has spread itself by e-mail around the world and is causing havoc for large corporations, according to security experts.It is just a macro virus but it has this additional feature of being able to get around quick.Melissa conceived in sex group Dr Solomon_s VirusPatrol, which checks newsgroups on the Net for developing viruses, discovered Melissa in a sex newsgroup on March 26.The New York Times reported that several major US corporations shut down their mail servers on Friday night as they became overloaded with messages created by the virus.Comments inside the macro virus identify it as "Melissa...by Kwyjibo." Computers become infected when users receive a particular e-mail and open a Word document attached to it.The e-mail is headed: "Important Message From" and contains the sentence: "Here is that document you asked for...don_t show anyone else ;-)." the attachment is usually called list.doc.If the user launches the document, their computer becomes infected, although the worst thing that can happen apparently is if it is launched when the day equals the minute value...such as 29 minutes past on the 29th, the following message appears:
" Twenty-two points, plus triple-word-score, plus fifty points for using all my letters. Game_s over. I_m outta here." When the document attachment is launched, a program is created which replicates the e-mail and sends it to the first 50 addresses in the Global Address Book of users running Microsoft_s Outlook personal organiser. Microsoft, Network Associates and other anti-virus and computer security companies have issued warnings and are supplying fixes for Melissa.
Šaltinis: Internet
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

IBM starts Web-based program to help speed up chip design work

International Business Machines Corp. said it's starting a program to use the Internet to speed custom-semiconductor design, bolstering its unit that makes chips for other companies. more »

Worm-Kit Creator Blames You

Sloppy programmers and lazy users are the real cause of virus attacks, according to the creator of the VBS Worm Generator program more »

Britain launches government website

Site that aims to take the country online finds controversy more »

Streaming wars spawn wireless weapons

The battle between Microsoft, RealNetworks and other streaming software companies is moving from the desktop to the cell phone. more »

Napster can play on, but threat looms

A court ruling Monday allows Napster users to continue swapping music for now but opens the door to millions of dollars in damages that could cripple the service. more »

Russian Parliament Gears Up for Role in Net Economy

The Internet has been one of the last frontiers unconquered by Russia's galling government regulations, but that may soon change. more »

Credit card fraud rises by 50%

Credit card fraud in the European Union increased by 50% last year. more »

Internet Business Swallows Millions

Companies offering e-business and Internet services are satisfied with their internal development, and the funds placed into Internet business are expected to start bringing a return within three to five years. more »

Indian Bags US Patent For Virtual Smells, Sensations

Sandeep Jaidka, an inventor, has bagged the US patent for the world's first multimedia invention on virtual reality device for producing relevant smells and sensations more »

U.S. online retail sales up 60 percent

Toshiba planning to offer music-download service more »