from: http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/0007/18/A13816-2000Jul18.shtml Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/0007/18/A13816-2000Jul18.shtml">Age Breaking News</A> ----- Computer hackers hit Middle East summit press centre Source: AFP|Published: Tuesday July 18, 2:00 AM THURMONT, Maryland - Computer hackers have breached the US State Department's e-mail distribution system for photographs of the Middle East peace summit, sending a virus to those who have signed up for the service, officials and journalists said today. Reporters and photographers receiving photographs of President Bill Clinton, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak at the talks being held at the nearby presidential retreat began receiving the virus this morning, they said. The e-mail messages, bearing the origin of "pd.state.gov" - the address of the State Department's office of public diplomacy - have subject lines identifying them as "jokes" or "funny jokes" or "life stages," they said. If the e-mail message is opened, it unleashes an as-yet unknown virus which can destroy a computer's hard drive as well as forward it to other addresses stored in the user's e-mail system, they said. "Do not open the attachments no matter who they say they are from," the State Department said in an urgent warning sent to all employees. It said the virus appeared to have spread throughout the State Department's computer systems and that its own software safeguards were reporting that it could not be "cleaned or deleted". "It is not clear if the current virus scanning patterns on the network and work stations are really effective, since it appears that some of our own users systems are now forwarding these messages," it said. Mouafac Harb, a reporter for the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat said he was the first to notice the problem at the press centre and alerted officials responsible for sending the e-mails. "I was suspicious because it said 'jokes and funny jokes' and I don't know anyone at the State Department who has funny jokes," Harb said. "I wasn't affected though because I intercepted it and told them about it." A State Department official said all those receiving the photographs by e-mail were being notified of the problem. "We're telling them all about it now," said the official. It was not clear who might have started the virus or what their motive might have been. | back to Breaking News index | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright � 2000 The Age Company Ltd. Any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited. ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, All My Relations. Omnia Bona Bonis, Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
