Computer Virus Expert Accuses FBI of Manufacturing Hysteria with "Code Red" Worm Alert

Business Wire, July 30, 2001

Business & Technology Editors

WELLMAN, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 2001

The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center (FBI NIPC) issued an alert yesterday about the Code Red worm which is supposedly threatening to infect and destroy computer networks.

However, according to internationally-respected computer virus expert Rob Rosenberger, editor of the Vmyths.com new service, the FBI is manufacturing hysteria.

"After Tuesday 8pm, FBI NIPC fears Internet users may lose 'electronic commerce, email and entertainment' services for an unspecified length of time," says Rosenberger, who briefed the White House and federal defense agencies on computer viruses and security. "However, the FBI NIPC has a history of (1) issuing Chicken Little alerts and (2) 'deputizing' [our word] the media to spread these alerts without checking them out properly."

The Code Red worm is a genuine threat and should be taken seriously, Rosenberger advises. However, he warns people not to succumb to hysteria. "A panicky user can be as dangerous as the Code Red worm itself," he says.

Rosenberger adds the timing of the Code Red hysteria suggests a PR boost for the beleagured agency. "The FBI NIPC's alert comes at a critical time for the agency," he says. "Vmyths.com believes they launched a 'Code Red publicity tour' largely to improve their image. They suffered intense humiliation last week when director Ron Dick faced an irate Senate Subcommittee (see http://Vmyths.com/rant.cfm?id=350&page=4 for more info). At least one senator expressed a desire to gut the agency because of its incompetence."

So where is the Code Red hysteria rooted? According to Rosenberger, a company called eEye technically "owns" the Code Red media hysteria. The firm's "chief hacking officer," Marc Maiffret, gave numerous sky-is-falling quotes to reporters earlier this month. "The FBI NIPC's alert should reinvigorate Maiffret's Chicken Little publicity efforts," adds Rosenberger, who believes Maiffret may predict another Internet shutdown.

Vmyths.com believes the anti-virus industry will jump on Code Red's coattails at this point. Product vendors tended to shy away from the media earlier this month -- because traditional anti-virus software does not detect this worm. However, some vendors released free utilities to detect the vulnerability it exploits and Rosenberger states anti-virus vendors will join the FBI NIPC's publicity campaign in an effort to promote themselves.

The U.S. military ordered a bizarre "precautionary disconnect" for its web servers after the Code Red worm first appeared. (See http://Vmyths.com/rant.cfm?id=353&page=4 for more info.) Vmyths.com doesn't know if the military will succumb to "repeat retreat" hysteria on Tuesday at 8pm ET.

For more information on the truth behind Code Red, visit the Vmyths news service online at www.vmyths.com. Vmyths is an independently-operated news service not affiliated with any anti-virus software company.