KGMB 9 News Honolulu
Jan 26 2004

A new computer virus, or worm, is wiggling it's way into computers around the world tonight.

According to computer technicians the so called "My Doom" virus gives its creator access to information stored in computers it infects. It also enables its creator to use your home computer as a proxy server for all sorts of web sites.

"Somebody could take your computer and turn it into a porn server without you knowing it. That's really bad," said Steven Lee, operations manager at Cowabunga Computers, a computer service company based in Honolulu.

The virus spreads from computer to computer via e-mail. Once it has opened it automatically sends itself to all addresses listed in a computer's e-mail address book.

Jeff Ohata, chief technician at Super Geeks, another Honolulu based computer repair company, says you can guard against introducing the virus to your computer by not opening e-mails or attachments unless they are from reliable and expected sources.

"It doesn't necessarily do very much damage as far as, it doesn't delete your, wipe out your hard drive or ruin your windows, but it does get into your system and make changes," said Ohata.

If you do inadvertently unleash the virus, there are a couple things you can do to get rid of it. You can take your computer in for professional repair, or you can purchase an anti-virus program or update the one you already have.