ABA Family Legal Guide

Computer Law

Internet Issues

Viruses

What was the lure that caused users to open the infected mail?

David L. Smith, who pled guilty to creating and distributing the virus, described in state and federal court how, using a stolen America Online account and his own account with a local Internet service provider, he posted an infected document on the Internet newsgroup Alt.Sex. The posting contained a message enticing readers to download and open the document with the hope of finding pass codes to adult-content websites.

Opening and downloading the message caused the Melissa virus to infect victim computers. The virus altered Microsoft word-processing programs such that any document created using the programs would then be infected with the Melissa virus. The virus then proliferated via the Microsoft Outlook program, causing computers to send infected electronic mail.

Smith acknowledged that each new e-mail greeted new users with an enticing message to open and, thus, spread the virus further. The message read: "Here is that document you asked for . . . don't show anyone else;-)."