You are here: silicon.com > Software > Security Strategy

Security Strategy

Virus warning: UK wakes up to Netsky.Peak

Inboxes start grinding to a halt...

By Will Sturgeon

Published: 24 March 2004 14:30 GMT

Reports are pouring in of UK companies waking up to a barrage of emails resulting from the Netsky variant P hitting what one antivirus expert has described as its "peak".

The worm appeared earlier in the week to little fanfare but businesses across the UK have been logging on today to struggling mail servers, vast numbers of mail delivery failure notifications, interception alerts or instances of the virus itself - all relating to the spread of Netsky.P.

Simon Perry, divisional vice president of security strategy at Computer Associates, said: "Netsky.P is definitely peaking. There has been an extremely high level of infection reports out there and a very high propensity of spread."

For many users the influx of mail delivery failure notifications is the most problematic aspect of any virus outbreak.

Netsky has added to the growing list of viruses which reach increasingly high numbers of variants. There was a time when a B. or C. variant was the most users would see, but the later end of the alphabet is increasingly getting an airing.

And Perry warned that there may yet be several more Netsky variants to come after P.

"No other new variants have been seen thus far," said Perry. "But who knows, we may yet wrap through the alphabet on this one within a few weeks."

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

Clive Longbottom Windows 7: Not perfect - but ready for prime time Microsoft's latest OS fixes most of Vista's ills - but still has challenges ahead

Stephen Kleynhans Mind the details with Windows 7 Just because it might work better than Vista, it doesn't mean you can be sloppy


  • Jobs
Finance Spread Betting Firm - C++ and Java Lead Developer Required.

Finance Spread Betting Firm - C++ and Java Lead Technologist Required. It is an excellent Senior Developer position within the company's Dealing ...

Failure Investigation Engineer wanted - Hampshire

They are looking for a Failure Investigation Engineer to join their Customer Advocacy team. Job Identify root cause failure analysis for product ...

Basingstoke/Failure Investigation Engineer/35K-40K

Basingstoke/Failure Investigation Engineer/35K-40K The overall purpose of the job is to; + Undertake and document root cause failure analysis for ...

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: