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[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

Daily News

Y2K Commission Issues Alert

By Adam Creed, Newsbytes - December 19, 1999

New Zealand's Y2K Readiness Commission has told Internet users and businesses to be on full alert, and switch their computers off if possible, over the New Year period in case their systems become the target of "virus freaks and computer hackers."

Today's alert warns computer users that there will be an increased risk of threats to their systems between now and until well after the New Year.

"There is a very high chance that computer hackers and virus freaks will see the coming of the new millennium as an historic opportunity to undermine information technology systems around the globe," warned John Good, the Y2K Readiness Commission's special adviser.

Good warns every computer user to safeguard their systems, whether they be a major organization or an individual user. Threats could come from hackers or damaging new viruses unleashed on to the Internet.

"We know, for example, that elements in the 'virus community' have already set up a competition for the best Y2K virus, so we are taking the issue very seriously," he said.

The alert recommends all users take steps to prevent their PCs contracting damaging viruses. These include not using pirated software, installing and updating anti-virus software, checking files on floppy disks and CD-ROMs and not opening unscanned attachments received via e-mail.

It further recommends that users switch their PC off "as early as possible before the end of the year, and leave it as long as possible before turning it on again."

"This will ensure you are not vulnerable during the cyber-terrorists' most active time," reads the advice. "It will also give the virus protection agencies more time to develop the countermeasures which will be needed."

URL: http://currents.net/newstoday/99/12/19/news1.html

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-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 19, 1999

Answers

New Zealand's Y2K Readiness Commission Can anyone in NZ confirm who these people are? Is this a legit government org or just some group of self-proclaimed experts.

Makes a big difference.

-- hamster (hamster@mycage.com), December 19, 1999.

I don't know whether this "virus control" is pre-emptive spin control, general bandwidth reduction control, control of what the Naval War College report refers to as the private transcript (the rumor mill), or an honest attempt to forewarn of genuine cyberterrorism.

But, while were talking about NZ, what Y2K websites are based in NZ and/or Australia where the rest of the world can "tune in" to get an honest picture of how things are unfolding. Something tells me that mainstream media may be more interested in crowd control if there are substantial problems with utilities.

Webcams might be of interest also.

-- Zach Anderson (z@figure.8m.com), December 19, 1999.

Hi Folks,

New Zealand's Y2K Readiness Commission

Is a Government Funded organisation.

These people are legitimate and their advisory is sound.

-- Bob Barbour (gotalife@ps.gen.nz), December 19, 1999.

Have a look at The Official NZ Y2K Site.

Most of what they have to say is quite good, but remember that it has been prepared by political hacks, and not by technical people.

-- Malcolm Taylor (taylorm@es.co.nz), December 20, 1999.