Security vendor mass-mails worm to clients

Antivirus firm F-Secure has apologised for sending the Netsky.B virus to several thousand of its UK customers and partners via a mailing list.

The email apology said: "Because of a human error, you may have received an email infected with the Netsky.B virus that was relayed through our external email list server and was resent to our UK mailing list.

"The virus did not originate from our network - it was sent by an unknown party to the list address. If you had up-to-date antivirus installed, the virus has been stopped automatically already and no further steps are necessary on your part."

Mikko Hypponen, F-Secure's director of antivirus research, said the mailing list was outside of the firm's normal email scanning.

"There was no need for us to accept external emails being sent to the list. We have rectified this, and contacted the people on the list to warn them," he told vnunet.com.

He said steps had been taken to ensure this could not happen again.

The Netsky.B worm spreads itself in emails inside a .zip archive or as an executable attachment. It also copies itself to shared folders of all available drives. This allows the worm to spread through peer-to-peer and local networks.

One recipient, who wished to remain anonymous, told vnunet.com: "It's not very good is it, coming from an antivirus firm? You'd expect better."

See also:

F-Secure performs single-tier u-turn

Vendor admits it has struggled to build a strong channel  26 Apr 2004

Netsky.b worm spreading fast

Warning issued as medium-risk mass mailer worm emerges in wild  19 Feb 2004

Microsoft fined for vandalism

Redmond giant apologises for 'mistake'  28 Oct 2002

Compaq cockup exposes customer details

Company blames supplier's 'human error'  20 Nov 2001

Data error gives BT surfers free access

BT said a simple data entry mistake was the most likely cause of the 'computer error' which gave thousands of surfers uncharged-for internet access for three months.  23 Oct 2000

BT system mashed by banger clanger

BT last week mashed up its network over a mouldy sausage.  10 May 2000

Hackers embarrass Schmidt by dipping into cookie data

Novell's chief executive had his credit card details stolen online and then, to make matters worse, the thief used his card to buy more than 100 boxes of arch-rival Microsoft's Windows NT.  08 Dec 1999

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