A destructive new computer "worm", reportedly more dangerous than Melissa and more prevalent than the Chernobyl virus, has already affected a number of organisations in Ireland and its effects could become increasingly serious over the coming days, deleting files as it spreads via email. The W32/ExploreZip worm replies to messages received by a user with an email message containing the following text: "I received your email and I shall send you a reply ASAP. Till then, take a look at the attached zipped docs." Both Priority Data Systems and Systemhouse Technology, anti-virus software companies, have issued "worm alerts" to all customers.
First discovered in Israel, the worm was initially classed as medium risk by Network Associates researchers, but was quickly upgraded to high risk status as it began to spread across the Net. After receiving an email with the worm's .exe file attached, users are at risk if they click on that file to execute it. Once the worm is installed it searches for files to delete and, if the user is using a MAPI-compliant email system (such as Microsoft Outlook or Exchange Client), it attempts to propagate via email.
Y2K Doom: A Small Firms Association survey of the problems posed by Y2K confirms that urgent action is needed to avert a "doomsday scenario of company closures and job losses" and highlights the potential for a major economic crisis, according to Esperanza, a producer of documentaries on Y2K. Members of the Dail Committee on Enterprise and Small Business have been urged by Esperanza producer Ronan Tynan to follow up on their hearings on Y2K and submit to the Government an urgent national strategy on Y2K for small and medium enterprises.
Testing Times: Chinese banks and insurers are to suspend all computer network operations in a series of tests to ensure they are ready for possible Y2K glitches. The People's Bank of China and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission will conduct three nationwide tests beginning this week, the China Daily has reported. The tests will suspend computer networks at all banks, cooperatives, postal savings and domestic insurance companies.
Pact Up And Ready: Motorola and Sun Microsystems have formed a 10-year pact to develop equipment to allow network operators deliver a high level of wireless telephone service to businesses and consumers.
FLUKING IT: Data Edge has launched two new portable products in Ireland to help network managers identify system faults. Fluke One Touch Personal Assistant can be used by non-specialists to troubleshoot networking problems while the Fluke LANMeter Series is a more sophisticated device providing network managers and technicians with a complete network picture.
Netting The Cash: A new US university study of the impact of the Internet on the American economy estimates it generated more than $301 billion in revenue last year and was responsible for 1.2 million jobs. The study found that e-commerce generated nearly $102 billion, while the remainder came from companies that create hardware or software, support the Internet's infrastructure or act as intermediaries for online transactions, such as online travel agents or brokerages. The report also found revenues attributed to all sectors of the Internet have been doubling annually for the past three years.
Acquiring Info: Dublin-based Decision Support Systems has acquired Info Products Ireland, a computer systems company that provides hardware and tech-support to a number of corporate organisations in the Irish market. The deal places DSS as the leading Irish-owned reseller in the Irish marketplace, with combined revenues for the two companies estimated to be in the region of £30m for 1998.
Trials And Tribulations: At the anti-trust trial last week, an IBM manager accused Microsoft of offering valuable discounts for Windows if IBM agreed not to distribute rival software. The allegation from Garry Norris was characterised by government lawyers as the most flagrant example of Microsoft's illegal aggression toward competitors. Also at the trial, a Princeton computer science professor testified that there was no technical reason for the software company to bundle its browser into its operating system. Edward Felten took the stand to testify that removing the browser did not affect the overall operation of Windows.
In Brief...WebStream Internet Solutions begins offering high-speed hosting on a fibre-optic connection from tomorrow. . . Compaq has unveiled the Aero 8000, the company's first Handheld PC Professional device and the first mobile device to offer built-in Smart Card technology. . . CPL Resources, the technology recruitment company, is to seek a quotation on both the Developing Companies Market of the Irish Stock Exchange and the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. . . Microsoft has released Windows 98 Second Edition, an upgrade that fixes some glitches and combines some previously available improvements. . . Adobe Systems will set up a new corporate division in Seattle to focus on the company's move to the Internet. . . The Spanish government is to give firms a tax break for using Spanish on the Internet in a bid to keep the language from falling too far behind English in global communications. . .