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Kriz Virus Help for a Merry, Virus-Free, Christmas
Thursday December 21 by Andy WalkerKriz is back and it's going to trash your computer whether you're naughty or nice. No it's not Kris Kringle's evil twin, it's a virus that spreads to a computer when a PC user opens an infected file.
It then modifies the kernel, the programming that is the heart and soul of Windows computers. The virus also infects other programs on the computer's hard drive and any networks it is connected to. It is targeted at computer users who run Windows 95,98 or Me or Windows NT or 2000.
Kriz, also known as Win32.Kriz, contains a payload. That's a piece of programming code that does a nasty task, like data deletion. Win32.Kriz's payload is executed on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. It tries to flash the BIOS of the computer. That's the part of the computer that stores basic information (date, time, hard drive and floppy drive settings, etc.) about the workings of the computer and is read when a computer is booted up. Without it, a computer won't run.
The virus also overwrites files on all available drives. This includes connected network drives, floppy drives and RAM disks. Norton AntiVirus and McAfee VirusScan will detect this virus. So will most other well-known anti-virus software.
McAfee's on-line virus utilities will scan potentially infected hard drives using a Web page utility. Further information is at: www.mcafee.com/centers/clinic/. Virus protection files can also be download from McAfee's site for licencees of McAfee's VirusScan software.
Symantec has also created a free tool that can be downloaded and run to detect and remove Kriz. It's at www.symantec.com/avcenter. Click on "Free Online Virus and Security Check". The company advises that computer users who may be affected should scan their system before to Dec. 25 and on Christmas Day. People who already own Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus can download anti-Kriz protection through the program's LiveUpdate utility.
Those that don't have an anti-virus program can use an on-line scanning tool to detect Kris and other potential virus threats. If the scan shows a system is infected, a utility can be downloaded for free to remove the viruses.
TrendMicro is also offering a free on-line virus scan utility for a variety of holiday related virus threats at www.antivirus.com/holiday. Licencees of the company's anti-virus products can also get updated virus pattern files from the site.
Andy Walker is a columnist at Cyberwalker Media Syndicate. Further friendly computer advice is available on-line at www.cyberwalker.net".
[Editors note: I tried the Symantec/Norton free online virus checker at:
Free Online Virus Checker and it seemed to work well.]
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