Sophos

Talk to our experts

Find your local press contact

Resources

Info feeds

What are info feeds?

17 October 2001

Anthrax: Anti-virus companies hype up non-threat

Anthrax spores

A number of customers have contacted Sophos technical support concerned by media reports of a new computer virus called "Anthrax" or "Antrax".

Sophos Anti-Virus has been capable of detecting the virus, known as VBS/VBSWG-2B, generically for some months and we do not believe it presents a threat to our customer base.

VBS/VBSWG-2B has been written using a version of the virus construction kit known as the Visual Basic Script Worm Generator. A different version of the same construction kit was used by the author of the Anna Kournikova worm. Because Sophos Anti-Virus researchers have analysed the construction kit, customers are automatically protected against viruses created using the kit, even before they have been analysed in our laboratory.

"It is disappointing to see some of our competitors hyping up a virus like this, particularly in the current political climate," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos Anti-Virus. "Anti-virus companies should act responsibly when it comes to virus alerts. Sadly, on this occasion, it's possible that the only thing which will spread is greater confusion and panic amongst the public."


See also: