SAN FRANCISCO: A computer virus purporting to provide information about
anthrax and its side effects has been discovered, computer security experts said
on Tuesday.
The new computer virus, technically a worm because it is self-propagating, is
spreading through e-mail instant relay chat channels on the Internet, according
to Steven Sundermeier, product manager at Central Command which monitors
corporate e-mail systems for viruses.
The e-mail, written in Spanish, has a subject line that says "Antrax
Info." The message claims that the attachment is a photo that shows what
the side effects of anthrax are.
Once the attachment is opened the worm spreads itself to everyone listed in
the email address book. The worm also can overwrite certain files on remote
drives, Central Command said in a statement on its Web site.
Researchers in September discovered a worm masquerading as a program to allow
people to vote on whether the United States should go to war over the Sept. 11
attacks. However, the "Vote Virus" did not become widespread.
US authorities say one person has died and others in three states and
Washington, DC, have been infected by or exposed to anthrax, a bacterial disease
spread by spores. The bacteria is believed to have been spread via powder in or
on letters.
(C) Reuters Limited 2001.