DGLInfo: Microsoft Ships Virus To Developers

Microsoft Ships Virus to Developers
Wazzu virus included in Word document

Microsoft Corp. has acknowledged that it included a virus on SCDRs (Special CD-ROM) that were shipped to 14,000 developers worldwide during September and October 1996.

The MS Word virus call "Wazzu" is similar to the MS Word virus, "Concept," that has been widely reported by various Internet sources.

By attaching itself to a Word document, the Wazzu virus is capable of being transmitted along with the document via any medium, including email.

When an infected file is opened, the virus inserts the word Wazzu into the text and/or rearranges up to three words in the document.

While the Wazzu virus isn't known to be able to perform actions of serious effect, it can be disconcerting to users unfamiliar with viri.

If you have received one of the infected CDs, the virus was included in the file ED3905A.DOC, one of 122 files on the CD.

North American solution providers who received SCDRs from Microsoft in September and October and International solution providers who received SCDRs in September are at risk.

Alert information is available in SPIN, a forum for solution providers on the Microsoft Network (MSN).

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updated October 23, 1996
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