Trend Micro Provides Free Detection for Remote Explorer Virus; On-line Scanning Service, HouseCall, Allows Users to Instantly Detect Remote Explorer

Business Wire, Dec 24, 1998

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 23, 1998--Trend Micro Inc., the leader in centrally managed virus protection, Wednesday announced detection for the "Remote Explorer" virus via its free on-line scanning service, HouseCall(tm) at http://housecall.antivirus.com.

While Remote Explorer was reported to have infected multiple computer systems at one organization last week, Trend Micro has no reports regarding this new virus from any of its customers and believes this is most likely an isolated incident that does not pose a serious threat at this time.

As a precaution, Trend Micro has updated its free HouseCall online virus-scanning service to detect Remote Explorer virus. With HouseCall, concerned users can reassure themselves that the virus is not in their system.

In addition, Trend customers will be able to download an update to their virus pattern file including detection for Remote Explorer next week at http://www.antivirus.com/download/pattern.htm and can use HouseCall in the meantime to determine if their system is infected.

"Trend's global team of virus researchers was able to analyze a sample of the virus quickly and include detection for it in our HouseCall scanner within hours," said Eva Chen, chief technology officer for Trend Micro. "While Trend believes this virus is most likely an isolated incident, it's still important to us and our customers to provide fast and effective detection for any potential threat."

About Remote Explorer

Remote Explorer, also known as "RICHS", was discovered on Dec. 17, 1998, and targets Microsoft Windows NT Servers and Workstations. A user with administrator privileges must log-on and execute an infected file in order to trigger the virus and infect a system. If a user with network administrator privileges logs on to other machines on the LAN from the infected system, the virus can propagate to those other machines as well.

If an infected file is found, users should isolate their system from the network to prevent the infection from spreading and scan other networked systems for possible infection. Customers who believe they are infected with this virus can submit samples of the file to Trend's virus doctor service at virus_doctor@trendmicro.com.

Users can identify machines infected by the Remote Explorer virus by looking in the "Service" applet in the NT control panel for a service running as "Remote Explorer."

How to Reduce Risk of Infection

Users should avoid logging in with administrative privileges as much as possible, avoid doing ordinary tasks with enhanced privileges and avoid running executables from unknown or untrusted sources. As always, antivirus software should be regularly updated and its use enforced to decrease chances of infection.

More information about Remote Explorer can be obtained from Trend's Web site at http://www.antivirus.com.

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro provides centrally controlled server-based virus protection and content-filtering products and services. By protecting information that flows through file servers, e-mail servers and Internet gateways, Trend Micro allows companies worldwide to stop viruses and other malicious code from a central point before they ever reach the desktop.

Trend Micro's award-winning products have been chosen by Check Point, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lotus Softswitch, Microsoft, Netscape, Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Wingra and WorldTalk as a key part of their server security solutions.

Trend Micro is publicly held in Japan with North American headquarters in Cupertino, and offices worldwide.

Evaluation copies of all of Trend Micro's products may be downloaded from its award-winning site, http://www.antivirus.com. Web site visitors may also test-drive products online through Trend Micro's Virtual Lab. Recent Trend Micro awards:

-- 1998 -- Trend Micro's network, anti-virus solution -- OfficeScan

Corporate Edition, ServerProtect and Trend VCS -- declared a

"Test Center Hot Pick", by InfoWorld -- 1998 -- OfficeScan for Microsoft Small Business Server:

Recommended by Computer Reseller News/Spring COMDEX Test Center -- 1998 -- ServerProtect: Five Palm Award, Beverly Hills Software -- 1998 -- ScanMail for Lotus Notes: Gold Editors' Choice Security

Award, Lotus Notes and Domino Advisor -- 1997 -- ScanMail for Lotus Notes 1.0: Best of Test Center Award,

InfoWorld -- 1997 -- HouseCall: Best of the Web, HomePC -- 1997 -- InterScan E-Mail VirusWall, Editors' Choice for Internet

E-mail Gateway Antivirus, PC Magazine

Note to Editors: HouseCall is a trademark of Trend Micro Inc. Other product and company names may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.