| ISMagazine.com | Crime and Justice |
January, 2000 |
ISLANDIA, N.Y., Jan. 2 -- Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE: CA) today warned computer users of a new Portuguese ``Happy New Year'' Trojan called ``Feliz.Trojan.'' Trojans are destructive programs that disguise themselves as benign applications. Unlike viruses, Trojans do not replicate themselves, but they can be just as destructive.
CA provides detection for the Trojan, which when started, will immediately delete the following files:
system.dat
user.dat
c:\command.com
c:\windows\command\command.com
c:\windows\system.ini
c:\windows\win.ini
c:\windows\system.cb
c:\windows\win.com
After deleting these files it will display a bitmap of an ugly looking face entitled ``FELIZ ANO NOVO!'' (``Happy New Year'' in English). When the user presses EXIT, the Trojan will display a number of message boxes in Portuguese and exit. The computer may not be able to boot following that.
The Windows installation directory (``C:\windows'') is hard coded in the Trojan body and the Trojan will not cause any harm if Windows is installed in another directory.
CA's InoculateIT signature 7.73 provides detection for Feliz.Trojan.
``This Trojan indicates that the threats from virus/Trojan writers continues,'' said Simon Perry, CA's security business manager.
``As desired by our clients, CA will continue to provide up-to-date warnings as these threats emerge and strongly recommends that computer users maintain their antivirus solutions with the latest available signature files.''
FEDERATION OF CONSUMER SERVICES: Crime 2000
NOV 22, 1999, M2 Communications - A conference dedicated to the growing problem of telecoms related fraud and crime is being staged jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Federation of Communication Services.
According to FCS Chairman, Jonathan Clark MBE, "Telecommunications-related fraud is now a problem for many companies within the industry, particularly start-up companies and those moving into new services and distribution channels. Losses can be up to 20 percent of turnover. Vulnerability to attack by the fraudster has increased with the wider use of computer technology and the convergence of telecommunications and the Internet. However, companies that have succeeded in addressing and managing fraud have reduced this burden to as little as one to two percent."
The telecoms industry in the UK and worldwide is one of the fastest growing industry sectors. Many pundits believe that Britain could lead the next communications revolution, rather than the US, because of our early lead in second and third generation mobile technology.
Roger Gaspar, Director of Intelligence and Deputy Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service will open the Conference, titled Crime 2000. It aims to cover all aspects of the telecommunications industry and, where appropriate, its role in assisting law enforcement agencies carry out its task in combating crime in this area. This will also provide a platform for all parties to pass on information and ideas.