Web Hosting Company C I Host Monitors Computer Viruses as Pranks Become Maliciou

anonymous writes ""Make no mistake, the pranks and spitting contests among the virus writers are becoming increasingly more malicious," said Christopher Faulkner, CEO of C I Host. "Or perhaps 'the big boys' are involved. It seems the latest variants have a more criminal agenda, destroying files and capturing financial information."

C I Host, a global leader in Web hosting, Internet infrastructure and software development, today issued warnings to consumers and businesses in the wake of widespread infections worldwide due to permutations of MyDoom, Bagel, Netsky and Bizex viruses.

"For the last six weeks, it has been seemingly an 'ego thing' among virus writers, to see who can spread fastest," Faulkner said. "But the current strains destroy business files on hard drives and specifically search for the names of financial institutions. It is no longer just a nuisance. It is an escalated threat."

Faulkner advises all computer users to: install security software, including firewalls; religiously update virus software and operating system patches; and delete messages from unknown sources.

The latest generations of Bagel and Netsky attempt to track down computers infected with MyDoom in an attempt to disable the first virus. Also, relatively harmless sound files have been imbedded that play audible messages from infected computers.

However, recent variants of MyDoom destroy spread sheets, Word documents and photo files. Bizex -- potentially the most damaging virus ever distributed by Instant Messaging, via ICQ -- invites users to visit a joke Website. The site had apparently been hacked, and set up to download the virus to visitors. Both MyDoom and Bizex are thought to have originated in Russia.

About C I Host:

C I Host (www.cihost.com ), based in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, is a global Web hosting and Internet solutions provider serving 205,000 individual consumers and businesses in 182 countries worldwide. C I Host is headquartered from its main facility and Network Operations Center in Bedford, Texas, and it operates diverse data centers in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Web site: http://www.cihost.com/"