Departments
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Week of 9 April 1999 |
Vol. II, No. 30 |
Feature Article
The Melissa Word macro virus
Unfortunately for computer users, the Melissa -- or Mailissa -- virus appeared on March 26 and spread rapidly around the world. Disguised as an "important message" from a friend or colleague, the message text is "Here is that document you asked for . . . don't show anyone else ;-)."
When one receives mail, the tendency is to open and read it. But those whose machines have Word97 and Word2000 should remember that any "important message" with the above message text should be deleted without opening the attachment: a Word file that might (or might not) be list.doc or list.zip. If the recipient opens the Word file and doesn't have Word macro virus checking turned on, the macro is executed and the user's system is infected.
But the virus doesn't stop there. In some cases it fires off 50 infected messages, swamping e-mail systems. Receiving and reading the e-mail is not sufficient to become infected. The user must open the Word attachment to experience Melissa's wrath.
BU's Melissa Word macro virus Web site shows users how to protect their computers and contains links to other sites that can protect against and remove Melissa.
On Friday, April 2, authorities arrested a New Jersey man they accuse of creating the bug in his apartment and naming it after a topless dancer. The 30-year-old could be sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison and receive a $480,000 fine.
However, the author of the virus put tool kits online that other people can download to create their own viruses. Will Melissa's legacy live on?
-- BF