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Do MP3s contain virus time-bombs?

Thoroughly angry musicians turn to cyber terrorism...

By Chris Holbrook

Published: 29 June 2001 15:00 GMT

A hoax is doing the rounds today, which warns users who have downloaded songs from the likes of Napster that many MP3 files contain malicious code on 4 July.

Users of at least three Usenet discussion groups were warned that around 500 of the most popular MP3s are embedded with a program called 'MusicPanel'.

This program, reportedly developed by disgruntled musicians at an American Independence Day concert, claims to evade detection by AV software and will cause computers to crash and the MP3 files to self-destruct around the world next Wednesday.

The claim by the group is a hoax however, as data files such as MP3s are unable to execute by themselves, which means they can't be infected by a virus.

For related news see:
Virus alert: New worm rises stateside
http://www.silicon.com/a45309
Virus clampdown: Kournikova writer stands trial
http://www.silicon.com/a45207

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