Cyber-terror stalks Y2K

By Adam Gifford

The Y2K Readiness Commission is warning people to protect themselves from "cyber-terrorists" producing computer viruses disguised as Y2K bugs.

Commission special adviser John Good said computer hackers and virus freaks saw the new millennium as a historic opportunity to undermine information technology systems around the globe.

"Elements in the 'virus community' have already set up a competition for the best Y2K virus, so we are taking the issue very seriously," he said.

On one Dutch hacker site, a hacker calling himself "The Might" invited virus writers to submit samples for his year 2000 page of new viruses.

"It would be nice if your virus would have something related to the millennium bug or anything with the year 2000," The Might wrote.

They were warned not to release viruses in any other way "to prevent the AV [anti-virus] guys detecting all the codes."

The contest winner would be the last virus detected from this "Y2K infection feast."

Richard Batchelar, New Zealand manager of Symantec, which makes Norton anti-virus products, said this month that the incidence of new viruses or new strains of existing viruses had increased markedly.

He said that while some virus writers might be circulating their creations now, others would be holding off until as close to January 1 as possible to avoid detection.

Computer users should update their anti-virus software at least once a week until the New Year.

The managing director of anti-virus specialists Applied Insight, Alan Candy, said most anti-virus products would not be able to handle a surge of new viruses in the week before Christmas or New Year.

"The virus has to be captured and submitted, the labs have to analyse it and get signatures, so there is quite a loop before the fix goes out. In that window, it can do a lot of damage."

Mr Candy said people should also be wary of hoax virus warnings, which clogged up the Internet as people circulated them to everyone in their address books.

Mr Good said computer users could avoid viruses "through clean living and good business practice."

This included using only licensed software, installing anti-virus software, not opening e-mail attachments until they had been scanned for viruses and checking files on floppy disks or CDs.

Until the end of this month, major virus protection companies are offering their anti-virus software free for a 90-day trial from http://www.microsoft.com/y2k/antivirus/AntiVirus.htm.