Annalisa Bracciotti has kindly sent me this message that originally
appeared on the late antiquity list, and I thought you should know about
it too. -- George
> ******************************************
> Red Alert for anybody using Microsoft's Internet Explorer as
> their web browser.
>
> This came in on the virus forum at the University of Hamburg
> from a fairly reliable source: Mikko H. Hypponen
> ([log in to unmask]) in Finland. (datafellows is
> an anti-virus company)
>
> The first indication that something was amiss was when the computer
> of an MIS professional friend of Mikko's was completely wiped --
> including BIOS and CMOS -- on 11-20-96. It took a great deal of
> arguing with Microsoft until 11-22-96 (logged at 0930 hours) when
> they finally admitted something was wrong and took "their homepage
> into their lab."
>
> Mikko's first report was at 11:13 on 11-22-96. By 13:17 on 11-22-96
> the following message was received:
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> > Okay, it's official (last conversation with techs at 1200 hrs,
> > 11-22-96, virus confirmed) Western Digital and Microsoft
> > confirm that a new virus is on the web and they cannot
> > isolate it. The only thing they know for sure is that it
> > completely wipes out a computer. As of this time, they cannot
> > determine how best to get rid of the thing once it is in your
> > system.
<snip>
> > They are recommending that until they can isolate it (it appears
> > to be coming from several locations) you just stay off the web.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>
> This sounds like a trojan rather than a virus, but it is extremely
> destructive nonetheless.
>
> Unless you can filter addresses so your webbrowser will not
> go to Microsoft's home page, stay off Microsoft's home page
> until further notice. (As Mikko post updates, I'll forward
> them.)
>
> Incidentally, Mikko and his friend *were* frequent users of Microsoft's
> Web browser.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
If I get any more information on this, I'll pass it along.
George Ferzoco
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