What is the Melissa virus?
Melissa virus refers to a computer macro virus that can infect computers and e -mail gates when users run Microsoft Word 97 or 2000, or Microsoft Outlook 97 or 98. At the end of the 90s. Companies such as Lucent, Microsoft and Intel had to temporarily turn off their e -mail servers because the virus generated a huge amount of dummies and system clogging.
The virus has several forms and can infect the computer as follows:
- 1. The virus comes in .DOC formation and attempts to replicate and send to other computers via e -mail addresses on the computer.
2. Variant of the virus performs the above and also attempts to delete files.
3 .. User receive e -mail called "My Pictures" that is empty but containRunned File. After opening, it deletes the data and sends it to the first 40 items in the list of e -mail addresses.
Although the Melissa virus can be a problem, many people with newer forms of word or outlook have no problem with a worm type. It does not work on Word 2003, 2004, 2007. Also called macro virus because it uses macro language. It is a programming language that can be inserted into other programs that cause it to start immediately after opening. Most viruses will tell you whether the program contains macro before opening, so you can decide whether you should or not. You can also disable the opening of macro or documents that contain them on most computers.
The best defense against meeting Melissa is the use of current antivirus software. This cannot be sufficiently emphasized because there are many other viruses that can infect the computer in different Ways. Is the VZDy wise not to open attachments in e -mails when you don't know the user. If you are unsure and think that a user may be someone you know, consider that you give this person a phone call or e -mail to ask if they have sent e -mail.
viruses such as the Melissa virus are captured by other hackers and updated, so it is possible that the program variants could be reinforced from time to time. Although many people have antivirus software, they do not have to run it as often as needed or updated as necessary when new viruses appear. Time to start virus check programs or get an update is worth sure to make sure your computer continues to operate and is without a virus.
As for the programmer of Melissa virus, the authorities worked hard on catching David Smith and lasted three agencies, FBI, Monmouth Internet and New Jersey State Police to discover Smith, identify him as a programmer and arrested him by the end of 1999.Nown to create VIRU, but also to create the most expensive virus for society (so far), and for the first prosecution to create a vicious danger to individuals and corporations. He was fined $ 5,000 (USD) and sentenced to 10 years in prison, but cooperated with the authorities and had his penalties and fines. Later he went to work for the FBI to watch viruses, found people who write them, and look for a solution when a viral infections of a computer or network occur.