Outbreak of Melissa.BG might die out during long weekend

F-Secure warns of "Resume virus" Outbreak of Melissa.BG might die out during long weekend Espoo, Finland, May 27, 2000 - F-Secure Corporation, one of the world's leading developers of anti-virus and encryption software, is warning computer users of a new e-mail worm, discovered very early in the morning Central European Time, Saturday, May 27, 2000. F-Secure Anti-Virus detects and disinfects this virus as "Melissa.BG" with latest updates, downloadable from http://www.F-Secure.com This new e-mail worm spreads itself via e-mail attachments, disguising itself as a resume, directed towards sales or marketing directors of organizations. "This is yet another attempt to use psychological means to trick people into opening an attachment," comments Mikko Hypponen, Manager of Anti- Virus research at F-Secure Corporation. "Almost every resume sent to a company would be opened sooner or later - why wouldn't this one?" If the recipient opens the resume document, a macro virus within it will activate and e-mail the virus further via Microsoft Outlook to all addresses in all address books. After this, the virus will wait for the user to close to document. When the document is closed, the virus will try to delete documents and system files on local drives and shared network drives, typically making the machine unbootable. The e-mail messages sent by this virus is as follows: From: name-of-the-infected-user To: random-name-from-address-book Subject: Resume - Janet Simons Director of Sales/Marketing, Attached is my resume with a list of references contained within. Please feel free to call or email me if you have any further questions regarding my experience. I am looking forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Janet Simons. Attachment: Explorer.doc "We don't expect this to become too widespread", says Hypponen. "Again, this virus is too obvious due to the damaging payload. Also, with Monday being a holiday in the USA and many European countries, the virus outbreak might die out before people actually get back to work and at their computers." For more information, please contact USA: F-Secure Inc. Mr. Dan Takata, Manager, Training Division 675 N. First Street, 5th Floor San Jose, CA 95112 Tel. +1 408 938 6700, Fax +1 408 938 6701 e-mail Dan.Takata@F-Secure.com Finland: F-Secure Corporation Mr. Mikko Hypponen, Manager, Anti-Virus Research. PL 24 FIN-02231 ESPOO Tel +358 9 8599 0513 Fax +358 9 8599 0599 E-mail: Mikko.Hypponen@F-Secure.com http://www.F-Secure.com/ Note to Editors: Further technical information and a screenshot of the virus is available at: http://www.F-Secure.com/virus-info/v-pics/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/29/20000529BIT00010/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/29/20000529BIT00010/bit0002.pdf