Main Page | Bracing for Cyberwar | Hacking Primer | Scenes from the 'Hacker Underground' | Hacking: Two Viewpoints | Timeline | Gallery | News Archive | Discussion | Related Sites

The 'worm' virus is spread via e-mail RELATED VIDEO President of the Internet Security Advisers Group, Ira Winkler, discusses how to keep your computer safe from attack Windows Media 28K 80K

June 11, 1999
Web posted at: 10:14 p.m. EDT (0214 GMT)

(CNN) -- The FBI on Friday tried to track the author of a malicious computer virus that has spread via e-mail to many large corporations and tens of thousands of machines.

The Worm.Explore.Zip virus is spread the same way as the recent Melissa virus.

"Hi, (name inserted), I received you e-mail, and I shall reply ASAP, " the virus reads. "Till then, take a look at the zipped docs."

When recipients open the attached file they unknowingly launch the virus, which wipes out documents, spreadsheets and other important files created by widely used Microsoft programs.

The "worm" virus also sends out the infected e-mail to every address in the user's mailbox.

The FBI's cybercrime unit estimates that "tens of thousands of computer systems" have been hit by "files infected, damaged or destroyed," by the virus.

"Users should exercise caution when reading their e-mail for the next few days and bring unusual messages to the attention of their system administrator," said Michael Vatis, director of the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center.

"The transmission of a virus can be a criminal matter, and the FBI is investigating," he said.

Quickly spreading

First detected in Israel early this week, the "worm" virus has spread as quickly as Melissa and may prove to be as damaging as the Chernobyl or CIH virus, which struck in late April.

The new virus "combines the speed of Melissa with the destructive payload of the CIH virus," said one expert.

Bracing for Cyberwar Hacking Primer Hacking: Two Views Timeline Gallery Discussion TIME: Counterhacking 101 Related Sites

Network Associates, a leading computer security firm, estimated that 60 percent of its 300 corporate subscribers were hit by the Worm.Explore.Zip virus. The virus has been reported in more than a dozen countries.

AT&T, Compaq, Intel and General Electric were some of the major corporations reporting damage on Thursday. Microsoft shut down its e-mail system for two hours as a precaution.

Boeing Information Systems, a division of the aircraft makers, said the "worm" virus caused its computers systems to crash. There was no access to a computerized telephone directory and an e-mail system that links 160,000 computers.

Experts fear the virus will continue to spread over the weekend as home computer users check their e-mail. There are also fears that variants or copycats of the virus will appear.

Correspondent Marsha Walton, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.