Computer Associates Wednesday warned of a new computer virus that has the potential to jam e-mail networks and reformat users' hard drives.
However, while CA is raising a red flag over the virus, other antivirus software vendors say they are less concerned about its possible impact.Dubbed Cybernet, the virus mails itself to the first 50 entries in a user's Microsoft Outlook address book, and tries to reformat a user's hard drive the next time they reboot, CA said in a statement. E-mails carrying the virus arrive with a subject line "You've GOT Mail !!!" and the text of the message advises users that the document attached is "virus free."
CA says Cybernet has been reported in the wild, and compared it to the notorious Melissa virus.
Other antivirus software vendors played down its significance. McAfee.com's current software already detect the virus and none of its customers have reported being affected by Cybernet, company spokeswoman Mary Kay Larson said.
"It's on a medium risk assessment, but that's only because of its potential to spread fast," Larson said in a phone interview. "We see about a hundred of this type of virus a month that are similar."
Cybernet was first detected Wednesday, and originated in Indonesia according to information in the text of the virus code, Larson added.
Security software specialist Finjan Software has assigned the virus a "low-threat" rating, a company spokesman said.
"We haven't seen anything yet, and no customers have reported it," said David Kroll, a director with Finjan.
Nevertheless, CA maintained that the virus presents "a high threat to all e-businesses and home users due to its ability to completely flood mission-critical e-mail networks."
CA says its InnoculateIT antivirus software can protect users against the Cybernet virus.
CA, in Islandia, N.Y., can be reached at 516-342-5224 or at www.cai.com/. McAfee.com, in Santa Clara, is at 408-572-1500, and at www.mcafee.com/. Finjan, in San Jose, is at 408-324-0228, and at www.finjan.com/.
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