A computer virus with the sinister name of Sircam is reported to have corrupted the IT systems of several organizations in the UAE, sources said on Monday, reported the Gulf News.
The Dubai Press Club also issued the following useful and informative advisory: "The potentially dangerous virus has made its appearance in the UAE."
Indications are that the virus implanted itself into systems which did not take preventive action, even though this was available, said the paper.
While the Red Code worm may have proved largely ineffective so far, it may take on more potent destructive powers today, according to Cert Advisory.
"On average, we receive 40 to 50 e-mail messages carrying Sircam through our external correspondences. The worm is quite widespread, but if effective preventive measures are installed it's not destructive," said a senior IT official at a major multinational.
Both Sircam and Red Code threaten IT systems through Microsoft applications - the MS Outlook in the case of the former, and the Windows 2000 in the latter.
A Microsoft official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: "We have not received any information from our clients about disruption to their systems from the Sircam.
Since July 17, we have been providing regular updates to our regional clients about the virus and the corrective measures available. If anyone had problems, they could have contacted us."
Sircam, first detected on July 17, attaches itself to the address books of almost any Windows e-mail program as well e-mail addresses it finds in the cache file of the Web browser of the infected machine, according to the paper – Albawaba.com
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