VIRUS NEWS Viruses: Employees to remain alert T he appearance of the Melissa virus and its variants, has reinforced the need for employers to adopt tough policies for handling E-mail. According to Sara Ellacott, partner at Nabarro Nathanson, it is not enough for companies to invest in electronic security systems; they also need to train their employees to remain alert. "Anti-virus screening software is fine, but such programs find it very hard to detect new viruses such as 'Melissa'. What is also needed are well communicated and understood policies within a company that makes the employees an effective line of defence against electronic infection." Viruses have the potential to seriously cripple a business and thus need to be guarded against at all levels. If a company is taken to court as a result of virus disruption, its position is strengthened by showing that it has done all that is reasonably possible to prevent and deal with the problem. Ellacot continues: "Any firm is at risk of viruses from the use of IT and companies need to cover themselves, identifying where the limits are to avoid any legal action against them. To ensure minimum disruption, employees must also be aware of policies and procedures required in the event of an IT virus." For further injormation, contact Chris Hinze, Nabarro Nathanson, +44 O171 518 3194. Detect and repair Melissa variants S Ymantec has announced that a complete virus definition set is available to detect and repair variants of the Melissa macro virus. Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC) researchers have analysed these viruses and added detection logic that will detect current variants and also proactively protect against future variants should they be developed. The new virus definitions can be downloaded for all Symantec anti-virus products via LiveUpdate, Scan and Deliver, or from the SARC download page (www.symantec.com). Symantec has posted virus definitions that support the detection and repair of a new variant of the Melissa virus called X97M.Papa.A.Intended and also another virus found in the same newsgroup called W97M.Ping.A. X97M.Papa.A.Intended uses Microsoft Excel in conjunction with Microsoft Outlook to send copies of itself to Outlook's E-mail addresses. W97.Ping.A will ping four different hosts to cause network congestion and a denial of service. Users can find updated information on the Melissa virus and its' variants by accessing the Symantec Web site at www. symantec, com/avcenter/venc/data/melissa, html. Computer Fraud & Security May 1999 3723/99/$20.00 © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

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VIRUS NEWS

Viruses: Employees to remain alert T he appearance of the Melissa virus and its variants,

has reinforced the need for employers to adopt tough policies for handling E-mail. According to Sara Ellacott, partner at Nabarro Nathanson, it is not enough for companies to invest in electronic security systems; they also need to train their employees to remain alert. "Anti-virus screening software is fine, but such programs find it very hard to detect new viruses such as 'Mel i ssa ' . What is also needed are well communica ted and unders tood pol icies within a company that makes the employees an effective line of defence against electronic infection."

Viruses have the potential to seriously cripple a business and thus need to be guarded against at all

levels. If a company is taken to court as a result of virus disruption, its pos i t ion is s t rengthened by showing that it has done all that is reasonably possible to prevent and deal with the problem.

Ellacot continues: "Any firm is at risk of viruses from the use of IT and companies need to cover themselves, identifying where the limits are to avoid any legal action against them. To ensure minimum disruption, e m p l o y e e s must a lso be aware of po l i c ies and procedures required in the event of an IT virus."

For further injormation, contact Chris Hinze, Nabarro Nathanson, +44 O171 518 3194.

Detect and repair Melissa variants S Ymantec has announced that a complete virus

definition set is available to detect and repair variants of the Mel i s sa macro virus. Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC) researchers have analysed these viruses and added detection logic that will de tec t current variants and also proactively protect against future variants should they be developed. The new virus definitions can be downloaded for all Symantec anti-virus products via L iveUpda te , Scan and Deliver , or f rom the SARC download page (www.symantec.com).

Symantec has posted virus definitions that support the detection and repair of a new variant of the Melissa

virus called X97M.Papa.A.Intended and also another virus found in the same n e w s g r o u p ca l led W97M.Ping.A.

X97M.Papa .A . In tended uses Microsof t Excel in conjunction with Microsoft Outlook to send copies of itself to Outlook's E-mail addresses. W97.Ping.A will ping four different hosts to cause network congestion and a denial of service.

Users can find updated information on the Melissa virus and its' variants by accessing the Symantec Web site at www. symantec, com/avcenter/venc/data/melissa, html.