PC Users Look out for Xmas VirusesComputer users are being warned to be on the look out for computer viruses between Christmas and the New Year, a period when there are more viruses than usual, experts said.According to Jiang Longfu, of Rising Technology, a leading anti-virus software manufacturer in Beijing, the virus Kriz, a mutation of the dangerous CIH virus, could affect a number of computers over the festive period. He said so far dozens of computers have been infected by the Kriz. The virus works by destroying computers' basic functions and so paralyzing them. In April last year, more than 100,000 computers in China were affected by the CIH virus, causing millions of yuan in losses. Jiang said Kriz was more advanced than CIH and was harder to detect. It is impossible to spot the virus before it infects computers so users are being advised to scan all files with anti-virus software, including Rising, Kv3000, or Secustar, a new software developed by Shanghai Chancerun Technology Inc. In Shanghai, there have been several virus outbreaks, said You Xiaoxia, of Chancerun. In addition, there is danger from computer hackers, who break into computer files and steal information, You said. She said the anti-virus software Secustar 1-e could detect and kill more than 40,000 computer viruses and can also prevent attacks from hackers. Besides Kriz, other viruses, including Navidad.exe, Christmas Ghost and the Romeo and Juliet are also threatening computers at the moment, said Chen Jianmin, an official with the Tianjin-based China Computer Virus Prevention Product Inspection Centre. He warned computer users not to open e-cards without first running virus checks as they might carry viruses. Source: China Daily |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |