Bug disguised as ‘Killer Resume’ hits US computers

SAN FRANCISCO: A computer virus disguised as a resume from a job hunter hit a number of corporate e-mail systems Friday, posing a threat for computer users when they log on after the long U.S. holiday weekend.

The malicious programme deletes computer files on a user's system if it's activated by clicking on an attachment, said Sol Viveros, anti-virus product manager at Network Associates Inc.

The virus can be identified as it arrives by the greeting "The subject is: Resume - Janet Simons." It appears to be a letter from a job seeker by that name, addressed to the head of sales, and invites readers to click on an attachment to check the phony applicant's references. The attachment is labeled "resume.doc" or "explorer.doc," as well as other names.

Files can be recovered by running "Undelete" software available from many vendors, although some users may not be able to get their computers running because operating software has already been deleted by the virus.

A number of leading anti-virus companies said their clients had found the "Killer Resume" in e-mails, with more than a dozen hit by U.S. companies by late Friday.

"It's moving fairly quickly," said a spokesman for security company Symantec Inc. .

Anti-virus companies warned users not to click the attachment, which launches the automated programme, or macro, that wipes out files and sends the virus along to others using the Microsoft Outlook's e-mail address directory.

"With the recent outbreaks, people are more cautious," said Dan Schrader, of Trend Micro Inc . "So we wouldn't think it will do as much damage as Love Bug, or some of the others." Love Bug, unleashed earlier this month, caused damaged estimated into the billions of dollars.

Network Associates rated the new outbreak a "Medium, On Watch" but Trend Micro has already given it a "High Risk" assessment.

Most US offices will be closed on Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.

(C)Reuters Limited 2000.