Y2K special: Security companies make New Year anti-virus resolutions

The UK's top anti-virus companies are warning users to be extra vigilant over the millennium after fears that Y2K confusion could leave the back door open to viruses.

"The problem is happening now. The virus authors are already distributing these viruses and the problem won't actually be seen so much on the day itself - we're receiving these viruses, we're writing protection for these viruses now," said Jack Clark, product marketing manager at Network Associates (NAI).

Symantec's UK MD, Aled Miles, explained: "A Y2K virus is something triggered by the rollover of the date. It's not actually something that causes a year 2000 problem in the way we've been talking about in the last three to four years."

Estimates on how big the problem will be vary wildly, with some virus vendors predicting a plethora of new and destructive payloads.

But according to Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at virus vendor, Sophos, vendors are guilty of exaggerating the problem: "The prediction from the head researcher at Symantec was that there may be 200,000 new viruses around the period of the New Year. I think that's extremely unlikely and actually what's happening is a lot of people are hyping up the threat."

Cluley added: "Our opinion is that you should treat these viruses just like you would any other day of the year. You should be equally paranoid and just as careful as you are normally about viruses. There's no reason to believe viruses will be any greater problem over the New Year period."

But everyone agreed that whatever the outcome, security managers should be alert to the dangers.

Symantec's Miles offered this advice: "Companies need to have an easy automated system to roll out definitions that prevent viruses. On the fourth of January, when most people are returning to work, the whole definition roll-out needs to be done during reboot, so that before people are working or sending emails, the latest virus definitions are on the system, up to the minute and are working."

"Keep your anti-virus up-to-date," warned NAI's Clark, "electronic updating is the key. Viruses spread very fast nowadays, they're using email to distribute themselves - you need to use electronic methods also."

For more information on how to protect your business over the millennium see http://www.silicon.com/a34844 .