'Tis the season for computer viruses
Published: 13 Dec 1999 10:08 GMT
Despite an expected four to five-year sentence for admitted Melissa virus writer David L. Smith, the number of new viruses appearing on the Internet appears to be accelerating as the end of the millennium draws near, anti-virus firms said Friday.
"We had an unprecedented deluge of viruses over the past two weeks and we see no sign of it stopping," said Dan Schrader, vice president of new technology for anti-virus firm Trend Micro.
On Friday, Trend and computer support firm Computer Associates warned of a new virus that could potentially spread quickly among users of the ICQ messaging service. The virus had hit one of Trend's largest corporate customers, according to Schrader.
While the new virus, called TROJ_ICQGREETING by Trend, has a damaging payload, an error in the program prevents it from activating. However, the virus's method of spreading could potentially have a cascading effect similar to Melissa and cause mass emailings, said a brief written by Trend.
TROJ_ICQGREETING is the latest in a host of network-aware viruses that have hit the Internet in the past month. However, none of the viruses have spread to the extent of Melissa.
Still, the fact that the new viruses use the Internet to multiply means that more people are aware of them, said Sarah Ford, a well-known expert on virus writers and the psychology of virus writing.
"We have predicted an upswing in network-aware viruses, due to the growth of the Internet and related technologies," she said. "I suspect, if it seems like there are 'more' viruses, it's probably closer to the truth to say ... that the viruses that are out there have had wider effect -- this makes it seem like a lot of 'activity.'"
Ford also believes that the Smith case has had little effect on the virus community. "Most of the virus writers that I have spoken with recently seem to be unconcerned about this particular case," she said. "I don't see this type of thing having any huge effect on virus creation per se, in the short term."
Smith plead guilty in both state and federal courts on Thursday agreeing to a maximum sentence in state court of 10 years in prison and up to $150,000 (£90,000) fine, and a sentence in federal court of 5 to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors recommended that the sentences run concurrently, though the judge could decide not to adopt any or all of the recommendatons.
Smith was arrested by law enforcement officials on April 1, 1999, after a six-day manhunt for the writer of the Melissa virus. The Word macro virus, which struck on Friday, March 26, affected hundreds of thousands of computers when it flooded email gateways.
While the resolution of the case may not have curtailed the virus community's activities, the initial arrest did have some effect, said Richard Smith, an independent security consultant (and no relation to the Melissa virus writer).
"Right after (David L. Smith) was arrested, lots of folks retired as active virus writers," he said. "The stiff penalties are going to be pretty scary for folks for awhile."
Take me to the Melissa Virus special.
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