Multi-Attack Virus Discovered By Norman Data Defence

Norman Data Defence said that it has discovered a new and vicious
virus in the wild. Known as W32/MTX@mm, the virus is said to be
highly malicious since it can strike as a conventional virus, a
backdoor program and/or as an e-mail worm.

The IT security firm said that the program will attach itself to a
second e-mail sent from a computer to a recipient and critically
also block access to several major anti-virus companies' Web sites,
blocking reporting e-mails to these sites as well.

This means, Norman said, that once infected, a system cannot download
updated virus datafiles and/or program updates.

The good news, however, is that Norman said that the virus does not
appear to block its own Web servers and e-mail addresses in its
current form.

The major spreading mechanism for the virus is through e-mails. This
e-mail has an attachment with several dozen different file names.

Because of its multi-attack methods, Norman Data Defence is
recommending that users download the firm's Virus Control software
and/or use definition files published from Sept. 28, 2000.

The download can be found on the firm's Web site at
http://www.norman.com/virus_info/w32_mtx.shtml.