Beware of "Worldcup Virus" in May

'Watch Worldcup and Mongolian viruses in May.'
The Korea Information Protection Center, an affiliated organization of the Ministry of Information and Communication reported on May 2 the list of viruses that will be active in May and advised PC-users to check their computers by downloading vaccine programs through the Internet or PC-communication.
Especially on May 26, special alert is needed for the revised 1.3 version and TNT version of the CIH virus, which recently destroyed a lot of files and software, will be active on the day.
* Several viruses - individually dubbed the Worldcup, Mongolian and Goodbye viruses - will be active in May. The Worldcup virus works throughout the day on the 16th, but only at 5:16 a.m., 10:27 a.m., and 10:27 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays in May.
If you turn on your computer at this time, the system will shut down and the words '2002 Worldcup Korea' will appear on the monitor.
The Mongolian virus only runs on May 30 but causes extensive damage to hard drives.
The Goodbye virus disrupts PC operations and acts on May 3,6,7,10,11,14,15,18,19,22,23,26,27,30 and 31.
* Many viruses become active each month only on a certain day. The FCL virus is activated on the 8th of each month.
It stops the execution of programs. The lethal demage by the Boza virus on Windows 95 occurs on the 31st.
Users have to keep an eye on the Clipper virus on the 16th, the Korean pox on the 18th, and the Beethoven virus on the 31st.
* Running checks on personal computers with a vaccine every three days is needed along with downloading new vaccines at least once a week.
Vaccines are provided at the site of the Ahn Chul Soo Anti-virus Laboratories (www.ahnlab.com) or Hauri(www.hauri.co.kr).
The world's biggest company specializing in vaccines, Symantec's, homepage(www.symantec.com) also can be helpful.
Saving all important data on CD or diskettes is highly recommended.
Jooan Kang : jooan@joongang.co.kr