Computer viruses, worms, and
trojans with a
"Y2K"-theme
have already started to infect computers.
There is a possibility that additional threats of this type might be
encountered through (at least)
the first several months of the year 2000.
There is no need to panic.
So far, at least, there has been no evidence
that the types of viruses, worms, and trojans we may see over the 1999-2000 transition
will be materially different than the
many thousands of other viruses, worms,
and trojans already identified to date.
And there is
considerable disagreement among anti-virus vendors and experts
about whether the number of such threats might increase somewhat over this period.
The precautions you should take against "Y2K" virus, worm,
and trojan threats are identical to those you should be taking
against such threats during any other period.
However, given the myriad of other types of computer
problems, large or small, which might arise during the year 2000, it is
especially important that you keep your
anti-virus protection up to date
during this key period, as well as
following safe computing practices
to help prevent the spread of viruses and worms.
People affiliated with the UC Berkeley campus should obtain campus site licensed anti-virus software from the:
You can then download ongoing updates to VirusScan and Virex that can protect
your computer against newly-identified viruses,
worms, and trojans via Network Associates'
McAfee Total Virus Defense Updates: DAT Files
page.
Microsoft Corporation has also arranged with many anti-virus
software vendors to make these vendors'
Anti-Virus Software available free of charge for 90 day trial
.
If you do not already have anti-virus software, and you are not not able to
obtain this software through the UC Berkeley campus site license,
you should give strong consideration to these trial offers.
Under the terms of these offers, anti-virus software "can be downloaded free of charge from November 1 through December 31" 1999, and will be functional for 90 days thereafter. Microsoft notes that you should "check the chosen Anti-Virus software manufacturer's Web site periodically for updated virus signature files," which are "also offered free of charge during the 90 day trial period." This will help protect your computer against newly-identified viruses throughout this period.
It is also important that you continue to follow safe computing practices to ensure that you do not inadvertently allow viruses and worms to infect your computer, as well as others' computers. Several anti-virus software vendors offer suggestions for preventive measures that you can take to prevent the spread of viruses and worms, including:
As anti-virus vendor Symantec Corporation explains on its
AntiVirus Research Center: Year 2000 Awareness Center
home page:
A Y2K virus, worm, or trojan contains one or more of the following elements:
- Triggers on or around Saturday, January 1, 2000
- Displays a message about Y2K issues
- Resets the system clock to simulate a Y2K problem
- Modifies programs or data to simulate a Y2K problem
- Masquerades as a Y2K patch, program fix, or update
A virus is a program fragment that attaches itself to legitimate programs.
When the infected program is run, the virus is activated and attaches
itself to other programs. A worm program is like a virus, except that it
propagates [by copying files, sending e-mail attachments, etc.] without
having to attach itself to a host program. A trojan is a
standalone program that appears to be something useful or amusing, but
performs an entirely different, usually malicious or destructive, action
when run.
It has been speculated that some authors of viruses and related threats might wish to take advantage of general confusion over Y2K-related computer problems, or might seek additional notoriety by associating their creations with the Y2K problem.
The following Web pages are among those keeping track of the "Y2K" viruses, worms, and trojans identified so far:
The following Web pages are among those keeping track of the key dates on which various viruses will be triggered in late 1999 and into the year 2000. (Some of the viruses mentioned on these pages have been around for a long time, and are not specifically "Y2K"-themed.):
.
Having difficulty identifying whether a particular problem might be due to Y2K issues or the result of an attack, such as an attempted break-in to a campus computer or a worm or virus?
The CERT Coordination Center at Carnegie Mellon University offers some handy tips on telling these apart for system administrators in the "Detection" section of the Center's Frequently Asked Questions About the Year 2000 problem
Finally, it is reasonable to expect that the 1999-2000 transition may be a time of heightened rumor and conjecture. You can check whether a virus warning you've received might actually be just a hoax by visiting:
Web site.
,
which lists known Y2K-related virus hoaxes.
Web page.
The following are some resources that can help you learn more about this issue: