Security news16 November 2000
Navidad and Hybris viruses pose low threat to users practising safe computing
Sophos Anti-Virus, one of the world's leading developers of anti-virus solutions, today called for calm regarding two new viruses, Navidad and Hybris. Sophos urges computer users to follow safe computing guidelines, following media interest and a decision by the US Army to rate Hybris as 'high risk'.
The viruses have been spreading in the USA and South America, and have already hit a small number of UK companies. However, they pose no real threat to users practising safe computing or to users running up-to-date anti-virus software.
"No computer-savvy person would open an unsolicited executable file they received via email," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos Anti-Virus. "If users took on board this simple safe computing message, viruses like Navidad and Hybris would spread about as well as frozen butter."
Most anti-virus products have been capable of detecting both viruses since early November and Sophos advises users to download the latest anti-virus virus protection from their vendor. Sophos users can do so here.
