Bring on the DEET

Posted by   Virus Bulletin on   Sep 3, 2002

The latest award for the most tenuous product-pushing story goes to BitDefender, whose marketeers claim a 'mosquito-borne disease could easily become a computer infection.'

The latest award for the most tenuous product-pushing story goes to BitDefender, whose marketeers have seen fit to warn the world about the vague possibility that our computer systems might fall victim to 'the world's most publicized subject today'. (No, not violence in the Gaza Strip, nor flooding in central Europe and China, nor the Kashmir dispute.) According to BitDefender, the West Nile virus might be about to spread to our computer systems: Mihai Radu, Communications Manager at BitDefender arns, 'The mosquito-borne disease could easily become a computer infection.' [Note, VB does not recommend application of DEET to your hard drive.]

In fact, BD's argument is that, because 'West Nile virus' has become one of the top search terms on the Internet, there is a significant likelihood that virus writers will exploit the high level of interest in the subject. Mihai Radu says 'Experience [has] proved that any subject important enough to represent a story for CNN or other important media at national or international level, triggers a quick-spreading computer virus, conjectured by that story.' So, just to clarify, that's any subject reported by CNN or other international news organizations will trigger a computer virus ? Happily, we may rest assured that BitDefender's experts are working on a solution to protect users against potential malicious code related to the West Nile virus. Let's hope they have their eye on CNN for all the other breaking news stories.

Posted on 03 September 2002 by Virus Bulletin

 Tags

twitter.png
fb.png
linkedin.png
hackernews.png
reddit.png

 

Latest posts:

VBSpam tests to be executed under the AMTSO framework

VB is excited to announce that, starting from the Q3 test, all VBSpam tests of email security products will be executed under the AMTSO framework.

In memoriam: Prof. Ross Anderson

We were very sorry to learn of the passing of Professor Ross Anderson a few days ago.

In memoriam: Dr Alan Solomon

We were very sorry to learn of the passing of industry pioneer Dr Alan Solomon earlier this week.

New paper: Nexus Android banking botnet – compromising C&C panels and dissecting mobile AppInjects

In a new paper, researchers Aditya K Sood and Rohit Bansal provide details of a security vulnerability in the Nexus Android botnet C&C panel that was exploited in order to gather threat intelligence, and present a model of mobile AppInjects.

New paper: Collector-stealer: a Russian origin credential and information extractor

In a new paper, F5 researchers Aditya K Sood and Rohit Chaturvedi present a 360 analysis of Collector-stealer, a Russian-origin credential and information extractor.

We have placed cookies on your device in order to improve the functionality of this site, as outlined in our cookies policy. However, you may delete and block all cookies from this site and your use of the site will be unaffected. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to Virus Bulletin's use of data as outlined in our privacy policy.