(EMAILWIRE.COM, December 21, 2000 ) CUPERTINO, Calif., -- Every holiday season, computer users can count on hackers to develop new Christmas-related computer viruses. It has become as dependable and predictable as Santa Claus. This year is no different. Already, Trend Micro Inc. (Nasdaq: TMIC), a leading provider of enterprise antivirus and content security for the Internet age, has identified several holiday viruses that are attacking computers around the world. To help computer users defend themselves against these threats, Trend Micro has put together a special web site, www.antivirus.com/holiday, with holiday-virus related information, free tools and software to inform, educate, and prevent computer users from falling prey to hostile holiday code this season.


"Some Christmas computer revelers -enjoying use of the Internet over the holidays - could be visited by the electronic equivalent of the Grinch if they don't protect against these naughty viruses," said David Perry, Public Education Director for Trend Micro.

Here is a list of holiday viruses that seek to complicate the holidays:


Viruses of Christmas Present:

1. TROJ_NAVIDAD.A invites users to click on a button icon, and
then displays this message in Spanish: "Merry Christmas -
Unfortunately you have fallen to temptation and have lost your
computer."

2. TROJ_MUSIC.A spreads via email with an attachment. It displays
a graphic of Santa Claus and plays a short song while the
Trojan makes changes to the Windows System directory.

3. VBS_JEAN.A (a.k.a: I-Worm.Santa) spreads this message
automatically through the infected users Outlook address book:
"Good Day, Christmas is coming. And what about fine Christmas
presents? Therefore a hint from Santa..." Then, it displays an
advertisement to a German website for online shopping.

Viruses of Christmas Past:

1. CHRISTMAS (a.k.a: XMAS in Japan) virus has a trigger date of
December 25 and displays the message "A Merry Christmas to
you" or "Jingo bell, jingo bell, jingo all the way."

2. FELIZ_NAVIDAD has trigger dates between December 1 and 25. It
displays the message "Feliz Navidad!"

3. TROJ_MYPICS was a Millennium Trojan that was set to trigger
any day in the year 2000. This Trojan propagates via email
with an attachment that promises picture files.

In addition, there are viruses from years past that still manage to infect computers long after detection has been developed and the media have stopped reporting about them:


Gifts that Keep on Giving:

PE_KRIZ.4029 triggers on December 25. A text string in the virus body makes references to God and religion.

PE_KRIZ.4050 was originally detected in 1999, and has recently re-entered the Top 10 virus list, detected mostly in Asia (Korea)

More information about these and other holiday viruses and hoaxes can be found at www.antivirus.com/holiday.

"Often corporations operate with skeleton IT staff this time of year due to holiday vacations," said Perry. "This can make companies especially susceptible to viruses if they haven't planned ahead with appropriate virus prevention and response plans."

As a holiday gift to computer users and network administrators, Trend Micro is providing this special website to serve as one stop holiday shopping for antivirus measures at www.antivirus.com/holiday through the new year. www.antivirus.com/holiday contains free tools and information for both network administrators and home users including:


Free Tools and Information

- A constantly updated list of holiday-related viruses and
hoaxes to help users distinguish between what is naughty and
what is nice

- A list of "bandwidth hogs" to enable administrators to filter
out e-greeting cards, emails, and attachments that are common
during the holiday season which can unduly jam email servers
and pack storage systems. In most cases these bandwidth eaters
are legitimate Christmas files, but network administrators may
want to use email content filters like Trend Micro's
InterScan(R) eManager(TM) to block or delay these attachments
if there is a concern about available bandwidth.

- Free 30-day versions of Trend Micro's complete line of
antivirus and content security software for the enterprise and
home user, including InterScan eManager content filtering
software for the enterprise and PC-cillin(R) 2000 antivirus
software and website blocking software for the home user.

- HouseCall(TM) free online virus scanning and cleaning tool,
that enables users to scan and clean their systems of viruses
over the Internet without having to install any software.

- Tips for safe computing practices, like how to adjust settings
on a computer to better secure it against malicious code

- The ability to track viruses around the world in real time using Trend Micro's World Virus Tracking Center
(http://wtc.trendmicro.com)

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro provides centrally controlled server-based virus protection and content-filtering products and services. By protecting information that flows through Internet gateways, email servers, and file servers, Trend Micro allows companies and service providers worldwide to stop viruses and other malicious code from a central point before they ever reach the desktop.

Trend Micro's corporate headquarters is located in Tokyo, Japan, with business units in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Trend Micro's North American headquarters is located in Cupertino, CA. Trend Micro's products are sold directly and through a network of corporate, value-added resellers and service providers. Evaluation copies of all of Trend Micro's products may be downloaded from its awarding winning web site, http://www.antivirus.com.

InterScan and PC-cillin are registered trademarks of Trend Micro Inc. in the United States and a trademark in other countries. HouseCall and eManager are trademarks of Trend Micro in the United States and in other countries. Other product and company names may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.


CONTACT:Trend Micro Inc.
Susan Orbuch, 800/228-5651 ext. 6362
408/863-6362
susan_orbuch@trendmicro.com

Contact Information:
Trend Micro
Joseph Nchor
Tel:
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