Sophos six month virus analysis shows self-propagating viruses
spell biggest long-term threat
Happy 99,
Melissa and
ExploreZip are
just the beginning of the virus evolution into the next Millennium.
A report of viruses striking in the first six months of 1999, by
anti-virus specialists, Sophos, shows virus writers are making
infections more damaging by no longer relying on users to spread
them unintentionally.
The analysis highlights three self-propagating viruses in the
Top Ten. Instead of taking months to spread into the wild, the new
type of strains attack globally within days. Sophos is expecting
the trend to continue as new viruses exploit even more loopholes
for self-distribution.
"Both Melissa and ExploreZip were deliberately coded to
auto-propagate themselves using Microsoft Outlook", explained
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Earlier
this year, Melissa proved it was possible for a virus to become
widespread, around the globe, within a single day. This is a
significant change in the way viruses proliferate."
Sophos is leading the way in responding ever faster to the
latest virus threats and continues to recommend that businesses
keep their anti-virus software up-to-date and employ
"safe-computing" policies.
Read the report: Anti-virus round-up
(January-June 1999)
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.