Lock up your computer, the viruses are coming!
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
"Warning! Your computer has been infected!" This alarming statement suddenly appeared on Edi's computer screen just a second after he clicked a "yes" button on a website providing information on how to illegally download games and serial numbers for computer programs.
Naughty Edi, 27, got his just desserts for his futile attempt to get his hands on a freebie and had to spend more than two hours reformating his computer's hard disk and reinstalling Windows after the virus attack caused a malfunction in his computer.
"I believe that it was the adware virus, which frequently attacks Internet users," said game-freak Edi, who works in an advertising firm.
As for Anita, a 22-year-old university student, being attacked by an unknown computer virus was a traumatic experience.
Anita said the virus damaged the revised thesis her professor had sent her e-mail.
"Since the virus was local, I had to download a special antivirus program from the antivirus magazine website," she said.
In line with the development of information and communications technology, various computer viruses -- boot sector, file-based, mass-mailer and network viruses -- are targeting new victims who are frequent Internet browsers.
According to the International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), 88 percent of computer viruses currently attack via e-mail attachments and Internet downloads.
A recent survey by analysts Computer Economics estimated that virus attacks caused global financial losses of about US$17 billion last year, slightly more than the previous year's figure of some $13 billion. The company reported that Mydoom virus had caused the biggest financial losses at about $5 billion, followed by Sasser, NetSky and Bagle.
Radicati Group, another analyst firm, projected in a recent study that by the end of this year, spam or unsolicited bulk e-mail would cause losses to the business sector, including wasted bandwidth, traffic slowdowns and service disruptions, of up to $74.6 billion.
To minimize the impact of attacks, providers of antivirus software are racing to offer the best solutions in treating as well as preventing virus threats.
Trend Micro Inc., a Japanese-based antivirus and content security service provider, is looking to expand its market in Indonesia.
Trend Micro Country Manager for Malaysia Wong Joon Hoong said his company see growth potential in the antivirus industry in Indonesia and is hoping to gain a 35 percent market share this year.
"Hopefully, we will have a new office open here within the next two months," Hoong told reporters on Wednesday.
He said 90 percent of Trend Micro's revenues were contributed by Jakarta, which had become a very important area for the company in expanding its business.
"We are expecting 80 percent growth in company revenues this year," he added.
Last year, the company reported operating income of $246.9 million and $150.3 million in net income.
Trend Micro, which provides a wide range of security services -- including desktop and client, outbreak management, network layer, internet gateway, e-mail and groupware, and file and storage services -- noted that recent mobile viruses had been found attacking Symbian-based operating systems. (001)