Access member only content, take part in discussions with comments on blogs, news and reviews and receive all the latest security industry news directly to your inbox. Join now for free.
Processing registration... Please wait.
This process can take up to a minute to complete.
A confirmation email has been sent to your email address - SUPPLIED EMAIL HERE. Please click on the link in the email to verify your email address. You need to verify your email before you can start posting.
If you do not receive your confirmation email within the next few minutes, it may be because the email has been captured by a junk mail filter. Please ensure you add the domain @scmagazine.com.au to your white-listed senders.
"We've had proof-of-concept examples of this for some months now," said Avril Poisson, principal analyst at industry watchers Willwisp. "But disinfection is hard to achieve because the virus mutates so quickly. This is truly a significant and worrying development."
First discovered in the Far East in early 2004 Malwarlaria.A spread in cats and other whiskered creatures as they walked across the keyboards of infected PCs. Infected animals showed flu-like symptoms, slight hair-loss and the appearance of some darkened patches of skin, giving rise to Malwarlaria's other name, the 'Gorbachev virus.'
The mutated version, Malwarlaria.B, causes a similar reaction in humans.
"It seems to arrive packaged in emails claiming to provide a quick-fix for debt and including a diatribe with the words 'you hate freedom'," said Richard John Bingham, senior technology consultant at anti-virus vendor LucaanWare.
"In a way, it does exactly what it says, for death is instant debt-relief. Because of this it will be difficult to prosecute anyone distributing the virus. Anyone who thinks they may have been infected should contact their anti-virus vendor, doctor and lawyer immediately or maybe just a priest," he continued.
Early signs of infection include rising stress, rapidly fading eyesight and the appearance of a blue-screen on PC monitors.
Another version of the virus, Malwarlaria.C is prevalent in rodents and can infect users through the mouse. As yet it had not been found in the wild, but users are advised to switch to touch-pads.
"Anti-virus vendors have been caught on the hop here," said SC technology editor Jon Tullett. "I've seen many viruses in my time, but truly, this one is different gravy."
For more information on the virus, click here
www.museumofhoaxes.com
Note: This is an April Fool's joke news story. Despite the obviousness of it, some people seem to believe it really is real! IT ISN'T!!! No more letters to us on this story!
To begin commenting right away, you can log in below or register an account if you don't yet have one. Please read our guidelines on commenting. Offending posts will be removed and your access may be suspended. Abusive or obscene language will not be tolerated. The comments below do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of SC Magazine, Haymarket Media or its employees.