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New 'Bubbleboy' virus can infect computers without opening e-mails

A new e-mail virus named after a "Seinfeld" television episode can wreak havoc on UA computers systems - even when the messages aren't fully opened.

"Bubbleboy," which emerged on the World Wide Web last Monday, infects a computer's hard drive and changes the registered owner's name to "Bubbleboy" and makes other references to "Seinfeld."

Mike Torregrossa, the University of Arizona's Center for Computing and Information Technology representative, said "Bubbleboy" is "something to be concerned about," like any computer virus.

"I would recommend that anyone that uses the Internet (have) a virus checker," said Torregrossa, a CCIT student information and integrated data system coordinator.

"Bubbleboy" can infect computers with Windows 98, some versions of Windows 95 that also use Microsoft's Internet Explorer 5.0, and Outlook Express Web browser and e-mail programs.

Once the e-mail is previewed on the "Inbox" screen of Microsoft's Outlook Express and highlighted, it attacks the computer.

If "Bubbleboy" squirms into a computer system, it passes itself to every other address in the computer's e-mail program.

So far, no UA students have reported receiving the virus.

But Torregrossa suggested UA students download anti-virus software from Dr. Solomon, an online company that provides computer virus protection and detection software.

Dr. Solomon's software is free to UA students, faculty and staff through a three-year old contract between the university and the company.

"In the past, it was not possible to contract a virus or worm merely by opening and reading an e-mail message," stated mcafee.com, a link from Dr. Solomon's Web site virus information. "This is no longer true, and ("Bubbleboy") marks the beginning of a more dangerous computing environment."

Bruce Paulson, CCIT computing manager, said he first heard about the virus when Dr. Solomon sent him an e-mail about "Bubbleboy."

He said the UA is looking at alternative virus protection agencies because the Dr. Solomon contract ends in February.