Sunday, 26 May 2002 |
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'Worst-ever'
computer virus warning
A new computer virus has just been discovered that has been classified by Microsoft Corporation analysts as 'the most destructive ever', reports from New York said. Cable News Network said that this virus was discovered on Sunday 19th afternoon by researchers of the McAfee group, which is a major designer of computer virus detection and elimination software. McAfee and Microsoft officials immediately began broadcasting the alarm globally. No vaccine has yet been developed. This virus reportedly targets and destroys 'Sector Zero' segment of the computer's hard disk, where vital information for the system's functioning are stored. This virus reportedly acts in the following manner: It sends itself automatically to all contacts on a computer user's list with the title 'A Card for You.'As soon as the supposed virtual card is opened, the computer freezes so that the user has to reboot. When the ctrl+alt+del keys or the reset button are pressed, the virus destroys Sector Zero, thus permanently destroying the hard disk. Last Sunday, in just a few hours, this virus caused panic in New York, according to news broadcast by CNN. This alert was received by an employee of Microsoft itself. Computer users are warned not to open any mails with the subject 'A Virtual Card for you'. such e-mail should be immediately deleted. even if the sender's name is a known one. This is because the virus may have automatically forwarded itself from a known sender without that sender's knowledge. |
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