Destructive new macro virus, Tedious, found circulating - destroys hard drive system files and sub-directories.CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 1996-- Trend Micro offers free software to detect and clean A destructive new macro virus A virus that is written in a macro language and placed within a document. Viruses have to be "run" in order to do things. When the document is opened and the macro is executed, commands in the macro language do the destruction or the prank. Thankfully, most viruses are harmless. has been found circulating in the wild, prompting anti-virus experts at Trend Micro Inc. to urge computer users to update their software to guard against this new threat. Trend Micro is offering free software to detect and clean this virus from its web site: http://www.antivirus.com. (Select Virus Alert!) Engineers at Trend Micro, a leader in server-based virus protection, first encountered the virus Tedious in early August, but it was not actively circulating. Late last week, a Trend customer reported that the virus had infected in·fect tr.v. in·fect·ed, in·fect·ing, in·fects 1. To contaminate with a pathogenic microorganism or agent. 2. To communicate a pathogen or disease to. 3. To invade and produce infection in. 1,000 files at its site. Tedious deletes the system files and the sub-directories in the hard drive, and is triggered by a combination of dates and times. "Tedious is the most destructive macro virus we've seen circulating," said Eva Chen Eva Chen is a relationship columnist editor. Over more than 10 years, Eva Chen's column "Whispering" has helped thousands single men and women who suffered from relationship failures. Check her website: www.metropersonal.com.au/tips.htm , president and CTO (Chief Technical Officer) The executive responsible for the technical direction of an organization. See CIO and salary survey. of Trend's North American Operations North American operation Surgical oncology Radical surgery of a 'frozen pelvis', consisting of radical en bloc resection of the uterus and urinary bladder. See 'Frozen pelvis.'. Cf 'All-American' and 'South American' operations. . "It is not widespread, but as a precaution, we're urging our customers to take just a moment to update their virus pattern files. Trend's virus pattern number 215 can detect and clean Tedious." Tedious, like most macro viruses, is believed to spread primarily through electronic mail attachments. It starts to work when the user clicks on an attachment to open or save it. While other macro viruses, like Concept and Wazzu, are nuisance viruses that move around or add data in documents, Tedious deletes the C: drive system files and its sub-directories. Tedious infects a system by attacking Normal.DOT file, the default template for Microsoft documents. Once the virus becomes part of the default template, all files opened after that are infected. Tedious is scheduled to strike between 1 a.m. and 11 a.m. between the 1st and 20th of each month. If the infected document remains unopened during those dates and times, the users' systems remain safe. But the threat continues monthly as the virus waits to infect infect /in·fect/ (in-fekt´) 1. to invade and produce infection in. 2. to transmit a pathogen or disease to. in·fect v. 1. the system until the appropriate time and day coincide and the infected file is opened. All users of Trend anti-virus technology, including InterScan VirusWall, ScanMail for cc:Mail and PC-cillin 95 (jointly developed with TouchStone touchstone Black, silica-containing stone used in assaying to determine the purity of gold and silver. The metal to be assayed is rubbed on the touchstone, and then a sample of metal of known purity is rubbed on the stone right next to it. Software Corp.) are encouraged to visit Trend's Anti-Virus Support Center on the World Wide Web site at http://www.antivirus.com to update their virus pattern files. Computer users who do not have Trend products are also urged to download this free software. ABOUT TREND MICRO Trend Micro, based in Cupertino, is a leading developer of virus protection, with products designed for file servers, Internet and Intranet gateways, and E-mail servers See mail server. . Trend Micro's server-based products are sold directly and through reseller and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and relationships. Trend co-developed with TouchStone Software Inc., PC-cillin 95(tm), desktop virus protection, a retail product, that was recently awarded PC Computing Magazine's 5 star award -- the highest in its category, and Home PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Award. More than 12 million users worldwide are protected by Trend Technology. Trend maintains the Antivirus Support Center at http://www.antivirus.com, the most comprehensive on-line source of computer virus information. CONTACT: Trend Micro Inc. Candace Turtle, 408/257-1500, Ext. 307 candace_turtle@trendmicro. |
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