World's first wireless virus reported by team

McAfee AVERT, the Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team, reported Sept. 21 that it had discovered the world's first wireless virus.

The Palm OS/Phage virus is a destructive virus that infects Palm OS applications when executed, according to a McAfee release.

Palm OS/Phage was discovered by McAfee AVERT researchers and has not been found in the wild.

When Palm OS/Phage is executed, the screen is filled with a dark gray box, and the application is terminated. The virus then replicates itself to other PalmOS applications.

According to details on the virus as posted on McAfee AVERT's site, the virus copies its body to the "code 1" resource of any other applications it finds.

The application's original resource section is replaced with the virus code so that it is possible for infected applications to be smaller than the same program prior to infection.

McAfee AVERT also discovered Sept. 21 the Trojan Horse program PalmOS/Vapor.741.

According to the McAfee detail document on Vapor, when the program is first run, all third-party application icons disappear as if deleted, although the files still exist.

When Vapor is run, it turns on the "hidden" bit for all applications, making it appear that they have been removed.

McAfee AVERT, which identified the Melissa and Bubbleboy viruses, employs more than 65 researchers in offices on five continents.

More information on the PalmOS/Phage virus, other viruses and their cures can be found on the McAfee AVERT site at www.avertlabs.com.