TECHNOLOGY NEWS SITE E-MAILS VIRUS TO READERS

     (USA) -- Editors traditionally have been concerned about
their liability in giving readers bad information, but in the
digital age they might also have to worry about what happens when
they send out bad information packages, such as emails containing
a data-destroying virus. Knight Ridder confirmed last week that
its "Good Morning Silicon Valley" email newsletter recently
contained more than the usual technology news round up. It
contained the Magistr e-mail worm, which can destroy the contents
of a computer's hard drive and CMOS/BIOS information on Windows
95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000 systems. The company says the incident
occurred after the host SiliconValley.com Web site suffered a
hack attack, though one virus expert says it is more likely a
Knight Ridder staff member got infected and unknowingly unleashed
the virus on the publisher's system from where it spread.
SliconValley.com sent subscribers a follow-up message about the
virus along with links to anti-virus software sites providing
removal instructions. The company said that "necessary
precautions to prevent a reoccurrence have been taken."
(Newsbytes 09 Jan 2002)
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/173521.html


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