Computer Virus – Fact, Fiction or Hysteria?

A new headline at PC Magazine calls the Downadup worm an “epidemic”. Other news sources have used similar words and FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) hype phrases. If you take the “growing exponentially” claims at face value, then throw away your PC right now because we are all doomed. Experts predict this worm will infect at least 8.7 billion PCs by Sunday 25th January.

Mikko Hypponen chief research officer at anti-virus firm F-Secure, says while the purpose of the worm is unclear, its unique "phone home" design, linking back to its point of origin, means it can receive further orders to wreak havoc.He said his company had reverse-engineered its program, which they suspected of originating in Ukraine, and is using the call-back mechanism to monitor an exponential infection rate, despite Microsoft's issuing of a patch to fix the bug."On Tuesday there were 2.5 million, on Wednesday 3.5 million and today [Friday], eight million," he told CNN. "It's getting worse, not better."

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