Truth About Computer Security Hysteria

New computer virus spreads Alzheimers

1. " 'Historically, as long as you don't open e-mail attachments you're safe from virus infection, but this changes all that,' said [Network Associates VP Sal] Viveros. 'We've finally come to the point where if you're using e-mail, specifically Microsoft Outlook, you need to have some sort of virus protection or you shouldn't read e-mail.' "
2. "Antivirus experts have long said that the only way to get infected through e-mail is to double-click on an infected file. That changed with BubbleBoy. The name, says Dan Schrader of antivirus company Trend Micro, 'is strangely appropriate because the virus writer is trying to imply that he's popping our bubble. I'm a little scared by this.' "
3. "Researchers [at Network Associates] believed the threat is so serious that they notified the FBI, said Vincent Gullotto, director of the company's virus detection team. 'It could basically disable your PC easily,' Gullotto said. 'This could be a watershed.' "
4. CNN video of Patrick Taylor (ISS): "What makes this one unusual is, traditionally you've had to open up an attachment, you've had to do something to get the virus. In this case, actually just looking at the e-mail message theoretically will infect you."
5. CNN video of Abner Germanow (International Data Corporation): "[BubbleBoy] represents a totally new way of looking at how to deal with a virus... Now you need to you need to suspect e-mails that come from people that you don't know. So just clicking on an e-mail and viewing it can be potentially dangerous."
6. " 'It's the first of it's type, because simply activating the e-mail that is infected will launch the virus,' said Chris Williams, senior manager at NAI Labs, the research arm of Network Associates, in Santa Clara, Calif. 'It totally bypasses the previous philosophy of 'don't open that attachment if you don't know what it is.' "
7. From a Norman Data Defense press release: "[BubbleBoy thus] contradicts the common belief that it was impossible to be infected just by opening the e-mail itself."

"Does anyone have a sample of the VBS/Bubbleboy virus (the one which infects Outlook when you read the email; you don't even have to open any attachments). A sample of the email generated would also be useful. I would like to urgently evaluate this new type of threat. Thanks, Alex."