Japanese Company Warns Of New Virus Threat

Tokyo-based Trend Micro Inc. said that 45 cases of the virus, Worm_Deloder.A, had been reported in Japan by Monday evening.

The virus attacks computers operating on Windows 2000 and Windows XP by testing a batch of built-in passwords under the username 'Administrator,' the company said on its Web site.

Once successfully logged in, it allows hackers to access information stored on the computer. The worm also alters the Windows registry upon start up and deletes all common settings on the infected machine.

A free software vaccine can be downloaded off the company's Web site, it said.

The software maker advised computer users to change their passwords on a regular basis and warned against using obvious passwords.

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