Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/09/05/new_email_trojan_reckoned/

New e-mail Trojan reckoned a minor threat

No tens of billions in damage estimates -- yet

By Thomas C Greene

Posted in Legal, 5th September 2000 16:53 GMT

The US National Infrastructure Protection Centre (NIPC) has issued a brief warning in regard to a new e-mail virus from the Philippines similar to that most famous Philippine export, the Love Bug. The new virus, named DonaldD.trojan, was first detected on Friday and infected a few computers over the weekend.

The Trojan circulates as an e-mail attachment with Philippines President Joseph Estrada's nickname, "erap estrada", displayed in the subject line.

Once the attachment is opened the DonaldD Trojan is executed and can be exploited to collect user names and passwords from the victim, the NIPC says.

The Trojan is circulating mainly in the Philippines, where "erap estrada" is a somewhat better-understood e-mail subject, and is therefore considered a low threat elsewhere around the globe. Anti-virus software which has been updated recently will detect the DonaldD Trojan, the NIPC says. ®