The Web: Breeding ground for viruses

By Paul Sussman, CNN.com Europe writer

The last two years have seen a proliferation of new computer viruses, or "worms."

Computer experts say four or five new viruses are now being detected every day, with some of them, such as the Anna Kournikova virus, infecting millions of computers worldwide.

Such infections can have a catastrophic effect, blocking e-mail systems, crashing servers and interfering with data, costing companies millions of dollars in lost revenue.

As worrying as the effects of viruses is the ease with which they can be produced.

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Whereas earlier viruses were the brainchild of computer experts, a new generation of "worms" has appeared that have been created by amateurs using "virus toolkits" available to anyone on the Web.

"The owner of the Kournikova virus has confessed that he has no programing skills at all, in any language," says Mikko Hypponen, virus research manager with Internet security company F-Secure Inc. "He simply used a tool.

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"It's horrifying that someone who doesn't know how to program can produce a virus that infects hundreds of thousands of computers."

The majority of today's computer viruses are now created using such toolkits, according to Natasha Staley of UK-based Internet security company Sophos Plc.

The creator of the Kournikova virus, who was arrested in the Netherlands on Wednesday, unleashed his worm using a kit known as the Trojan VBS Worm Generator.

The generator tool originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where it was programed by a hacker styling themselves (K)Alamar.

The first known kit, the Virus Construction Set (VCS), was written in 1991 by German group styling themselves the Verband Deutscher Virenliebhaber (Federation of German Virus Lovers). Since then dozens of similar programs have appeared.

While most such viruses cause only minimal harm, some are far more widespread and damaging, and can land their creator in jail. Under Dutch law the originator of the Kournikova virus could face up four years in prison.

As well as virus kits it is also possible to download programs that allow you to unlock people's passwords and corrupt data files.

With such technology so freely available it is no surprise that companies are taking ever more elaborate measures to improve computer security in their offices.

It remains hard, however, to provide absolute security, especially where laptops and palm-top computers are involved.

"People may get e-mails from their friends, from their home pcs, laptops, whatever," says Simon Narrocott of Internet service provider World Online. "Then they bring it into the office and a lot of viruses do things quietly, so it may send an e-mail out to all your people and corrupt your hard disk."

Because the majority of toolkit-type viruses are fairly simple programs, it remains relatively easy to install counter-measures.

The problem facing companies, however, and individuals too, is that with such a proliferation of viruses in existence, and new ones appearing every day, protecting against them can be both an expensive and extremely time-consuming business.

Kournikova virus suspect arrested
February 14, 2001
Man charged over Kournikova virus
February 14, 2001
Kournikova virus slams U.S., Europe, misses Asia
February 13, 2001
New e-mail virus preys on Anna Kournikova fans
February 12, 2001
Hacking into the minds of virus writers
February 10, 2001

F-Secure
Sophos Anti-Virus
Trojan Worm Description

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