The Wazzu Virus.

Virus Alert! The September edition of the Microsoft SPCD has a file infected with "Wazzu" - actually, the original Wazzu.A strain. Watch out for SIA\MKTOOLS\CASE\ED3905A.DOC! Microsoft aided the spread of Wazzu by distributing a Wazzu-infected document on the Swiss ORBIT conference CD, and keeping an identical copy of the infected document on its Swiss Website for at least five days after being notified of the problem. Now it seems that Wazzu has received even wider distribution, thanks to MS, through the SPCD.

HEY, REDMOND! KNOCK IT OFF! CompuServe has had effective virus-scanning procedures in place for years - it's very rare that an infected file gets posted on CIS (although it did happen once, with a Concept-infected Word .doc posted on the old Microsoft-sponsored GO MSEXCEL forum). WHY CAN'T YOU FOLKS GET THE SAME KIND OF PROTECTION GOING FOR THE CDs YOU CUT?

Wazzu is a nasty little bugger that uses an AutoOpen macro to propagate and deliver an annoying "payload." Every time a Wazzu-infected document is opened, the virus re-arranges a few words in the document. Every so often it also inserts the string "Wazzu" in the document.

Many of us who lived in Washington state note the similarity between "Wazzu" and the common, spoken version of "WSU", for "Washington State University". It's entirely possible that Wazzu originated at WSU, or with an alumnus from that institution.

Every major anti-virus program detects and removes Wazzu, including Norton, Dr. Solomon, F-PROT, and McAffee. But it's such a new virus that you *must* ensure you're running the latest version of the virus detectors. Get on the appropriate company Web site - and re-visit the Web site weekly! - to make sure you have the latest.