'Stages' computer virus hits Japan

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.techserver.com/noframes/story/0,2294,500235343-500343626-501976871-0,00.html

The Associated Press

TOKYO (August 3, 2000 8:41 a.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - A
computer virus that causes e-mail servers to malfunction has found its
way from the United States to Japan, with more than 200 cases reported
in July, a government-affiliated organization said Thursday.

The virus, called "Stages," invades address books in Microsoft Outlook
programs through an attachment labeled Life-Stages.txt.shs, said Fumio
Kidani, an official at the Information Technology Promotion Agency.

When opened, the virus spreads to up to 100 e-mail addresses, Kidani
said.

Kidani said 11 cases of the virus were reported in June and 245 in
July, the most in a single month in Japan since 346 cases of the "I
Love You" virus were reported in May, Kidani said.

The "Love Bug" virus, which deleted computer files worldwide, caused
billions of dollars in damage.

So far, Kidani said there have been no reports of damage in Japan from
the "Stages" virus.

Computer users should delete the mail to prevent the virus from
spreading, though it does not affect files on a hard drive, he said.

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