‘Black Friday’ virus-free
PA Wellington Fears about Black Friday computer viruses appear to have been unfounded. The worldwide outbreak of computer viruses expected to start yesterday has passed New Zealand by.
The police, Telecom networks, IBM, PC Power, and the New Zealand Computer Society have all reported no attacks of the virus. Viruses were expected to strike yesterday as Friday the thirteenth is a traditional day for viruses to attack personal computers. New Zealand also avoided the Black Friday outbreaks earlier in the
Friday the thirteenth part 11, Datacrime and Columbus Day viruses have figured prominently in overseas reports in recent months.
Friday the thirteenth part II has been found in New Zealand. But Dr Jim Baitaxe, of Victoria University’s anti-virus unit, said there was no reason to believe that either of the other two more dangerous variations had entered New Zealand.
If the Datacrime virus is triggered, the words “Datacrime. Entered March 1 1989” appear on the screen and within seconds the
data and instructions stored on the computer’s hard disk are erased. In Holland the virus was unleashed by unknown hackers 24 hours before it was expected to strike.
The hackers said they intended to use the so-called Jerusalem Virus — a sophisticated virus originally meant to wreck the Israeli computer system. The Jerusalem Virus was discovered only 48 hours before it was to be entered into the system on May 13, last year.
Dr Baitaxe said Datacrime was particularly nasty as it required a special programme to detect it
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891014.2.60
Bibliographic details
Press, 14 October 1989, Page 7
Word Count
251‘Black Friday’ virus-free Press, 14 October 1989, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in