Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/06/28/consumer_protection_body_sends_out/

Consumer protection body sends out virus email

Ducks responsibility as infection spreads across globe

By Tim Richardson

Posted in On-Prem, 28th June 1999 12:09 GMT

A worldwide federation looking after the interests of consumers sent out an email virus last week and couldn't be bothered to tell anyone about it. Scores of journalists around the world received the Word 97 attachment on Friday from Consumers International (CI) -- a global body made up of 200 of consumers groups. News of the macro virus was only discovered when someone at the Boston Women's Health Book Collective -- with its slogan "Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century" -- issued an alert. Instead of taking any action, CI abdicated all responsibility for its infectious actions. No one at its London offices seemed bothered that it was responsible for transmitting a virus. Nor did they have the common courtesy to return any phone calls. "Unfortunately, this sort of thing is pretty common," said David Emm, anti-virus product manager at Network Associates. When it happens, the originator of the virus should inform others, he said. Although he urged people to shoulder some of the responsibility themselves by installing anti-virus software on their machines. But as he makes his living selling anti-virus software, he would, wouldn't he? Chris Gethin, development manager for CI said that he was sorry and that an email would be sent out today about the virus. Let's hope that's not riddled with some other infectious disease. ®