February 01, 2004--

Once the virus infects a Windows-running PC, it installs a program that allows the computer to be controlled remotely. The program primes the PC to send data to the SCO Group's Web server, starting Sunday. SCO quickly offered $250,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or group responsible for creating MyDoom virus.

The virus also copies itself to the Kazaa download directory on PCs, on which the file-sharing program is loaded. The virus camouflages with one of seven file names: Winamp5, icq2004-final, Activation_Crack, Strip-gril-2.0bdcom_patches, RootkitXP, Officecrack and Nuke2004.

An offshoot of MyDoom soon emerged, aiming data attacks at Microsoft's Web site and interfering with an infected PC's ability to access downloadable security-software updates. Microsoft followed SCO's lead and announced a $250,000 reward of its own

The reward is the third time Microsoft has posted a $250,000 "Wanted" sign on the Internet. It offered the same amount for information leading to the capture and conviction of the persons or groups responsible for releasing the MSBlast worm and the Sobig.F virus.

Where can I get the latest Anti-Virus software?

Two days after the attacks began, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced an e-mail alert system aimed at informing two groups of citizens--technical experts and the average home user--of potential online threats. The system, known as the National Cyber Alert System, will be maintained and administered by the U.S. national computer emergency response team, or US-CERT, but it relies on the expertise of many security companies.

The alert system is the United States' first nationally coordinated warning system for Internet threats and vulnerabilities. The system will take information from a variety of public and private sources and issue warnings, bulletins and how-to notifications.

PC users can sign up for the new alert service online by going to the US-CERT Web site. The site offers four categories of e-mail alerts, two for nontechnical people and two others for a technical audience.

The alert system is the United States' first nationally coordinated warning system for Internet threats and vulnerabilities. The system will take information from a variety of public and private sources and issue warnings, bulletins and how-to notifications.

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