IT Losing Ground in Virus Battle

After years of success deploying more effective and smarter defenses, anti-virus researchers contacted last week in the wake of the MyDoom outbreak acknowledged for one of the first times that the battle may be getting away from them. The MyDoom virus, which hit Jan. 26 and infected several-hundred-thousand machines, is the fastest-spreading virus in the history of the Internet, experts said. At its peak late last week, MyDoom had infected one in every 12 pieces of e-mail, according to MessageLabs Inc., a New York-based e-mail security company. MyDoom also is the latest in a line of recent viruses that, while not particularly innovative, have been maddeningly effective.

Anti-virus software is an inherently reactive technology, leaving users as the first line of defense against new viruses. But despite endless admonishments to refrain from opening e-mail attachments, whether from home or work, many users continue to be fooled. In fact, whereas most viruses start from home PCs, MyDoom began from inside a corporate network.

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