Watch Out For Virus Hoax During World Cup

Anti-virus solutions provider, Sophos, urges computer users to be extra vigilant against virus threats as excitement surrounding the World Cup competition reaches fever pitch.

Seemingly harmless World Cup screensavers, spreadsheets and electronic wall
charts could provide the ideal vehicles for virus and worm propagation.
Sophos is advising employees and home PC users not to open
unsolicited emails, download material from the Internet or use anything on
their computer which is not known to be virus-free.

“Millions of people worldwide will be following the World Cup and will be
using the Internet and email to keep up to date with all the action,” said
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant, Sophos Anti-Virus.

“We have already seen viruses utilizing the popularity of celebrities such as Anna
Kournikova and Britney Spears; David Beckham or Michael Owen could be next.
Amidst the enthusiasm for the competition, it’s important that users
maintain a solid defence,” he added.

The World Cup has provided the inspiration for viruses in the past, and the
possibility of it happening again should not be ruled out. In 1998, in a
tribute to the winning French team, the WM97/ZMJ-K virus dropped infected
documents onto victims’ PCs, displaying the message ‘vive la coupe du monde
98!!!’.