by Times of Oman

MUSCAT – The Sultanate best- known Omani computer whizkid has developed a brand new virus cleaner to battle one of the deadly viruses that is doing the rounds.

Tariq bin Hilal al Barwani, Internet Manager of OHI Telecommunications, told Times of Oman yesterday that he has developed a new virus cleaner called ‘Fix2001 OHI-Tariq’ to counter the Fix2001-Internet problem year 2000 virus that is know to erase all data on a hard disk drive.

Fix2001 ohitariq virus cleaner was released by OHI Telecommunications. 

“The virus appears in the e-mail box as an attached file with a subject message that says ‘Internet problem year 2000’, “Tariq informed yesterday.

He noted that the virus would normally pose as a year 2000 bug fixer.  “when it is executed it will copy itself to the Windows system files and make changes to the users registry keys so it can attempt to use the mail client and to load at Window startup,” Tariq said, detailing the process in which the virus attaches itself to the system file.

The effect is deadly,  he stressed, “This virus monitors e-mail received and searches for e-mail addresses and then uses them to send a new message with the worm attached.  When valid Internet connection is dictated, the worm scans sent and received messages, gets e-mail addresses from there, and sends its copy with the same body message mentioned above. This virus is 32 bit Worm and it travels by sending email messages to users. “The virus is extremely dangerous as it overwrites the C:\command.com file with a DOS Trojan that will erase all data on hard drive after the system is rebooted “, he said.

The Fix2001 is an Internet Virus that has been discovered in September 1999, and usually arrives as a 12kb file attached to an email message.  

“But the virus cleaner is a program, which will clear the virus completely from the computer system.”Tariq said, adding that it could be downloaded/obtained free from www.ohitariq.net – the first IT portal in Oman. 

“It is my duty to make sure that our valuable data are not attached by serious viruses “ noted Tariq.