COMPUSERVE, THUNDERBYTE TEAM UP TO CONQUER WINDOWS 95 VIRUS COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1996 -- Computer users will now be able to fight and destroy the first virus working under the Windows 95 operating system using a new anti-virus utility debuting exclusively on the CompuServe Information Service. ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities, Version 7.0 for Windows 95, has been thoroughly tested and is ready to detect and destroy BOZA, alias Bizatch Virus, a reasonably fast-spreading virus that targets the true 32-bit executable files with the Windows Portable Executable EXE-headers (such files are used in both Windows 95 / NT). ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus (TBAV) Utilities, Version 7.0 for Windows 95, ready to detect BOZA, will be released on CompuServe immediately. Howard H. Thaw, president of TCT-ThunderBYTE Corporation (USA) reports that "through special arrangements with CompuServe and the Windows Users Group Network (WUGNET), Windows 95 users around-the-world can download a free, 30-day, fully-functional trial version of TBAV from CompuServe on the Windows 95 Support Menu (GO WIN95). Larry McJunkin, Online Operations Manager for WUGNET, added that "The needs of our members are what fosters relationships with vendors such as ThunderBYTE." Complete support for ThunderBYTE will continue to be available on CompuServe in the Windows Utilities Forum (GO WINUTIL). "Being the exclusive outlet for this impressive anti-virus software further demonstrates our commitment to supporting the world's hardware and software community," said Rob Mainor, CompuServe’s vice president of product marketing and business information services. Once again, we have been the first to offer leading-edge anti-virus software to our members. This announcement strengthens our position not only as the online leader in Windows 95 support, but as the best source of technical support in the online world." Each time a file that is infected with the BOZA virus is executed it immediately infects up to three EXE files in its current directory, before returning to execute the code of the originally infected file. To most unsuspecting users, the process is relatively fast and everything may appear as normal. The potential harm caused by the virus itself stems from the chances that the extra codes added by the virus may destroy some of the files during the process of infection and an apparent error in its programming may cause some of the infected files to grow up to megabytes in size. "From the outset, scientists at the ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Research Center have focused on understanding the mechanisms of viral behavior and the techniques used by virus writers to manipulate PC hardware," said Sean Nadeau, Director or Technical Support for ThunderBYTE in North America. "With that understanding has come the knowledge necessary to render those techniques ineffective, making TBAV software one of the best solutions for computer users," added Dr. Frans Veldman, author and architect of the world acclaimed ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities and CEO at ThunderBYTE Center for Anti-Virus Research. "Our scientists and researchers have been working around-the-clock to study the etiology of BOZA and develop a solution, rather than a simple fix for this type of Windows 95 virus." First Windows 95 Virus - defeated! BOZA, alias Bizatch may signal the start of High Tech Warfare on Windows 95 "Recent reports from anti-virus researchers around-the-world have signalled that the first virus working under the Windows 95 operating system has faced the 'lights of day'" reports Righard J. Zwienenberg, Senior Anti-Virus Researcher at ThunderBYTE, The NetherLands. The BOZA, alias Bizatch Virus targets the true 32-bit executable files with the Windows Portable Executable EXE-headers (such files are used in both Windows 95 / NT). The BOZA virus is a non-resident appending virus which spreads reasonably fast. The virus was reportedly written by a virus development group based in Australia. Each time a file that is infected with the BOZA virus is executed it immediately infects up to three EXE files in its current directory, before returning to execute the code of the originally infected file. To most unsuspecting users, the process is relatively fast and everything may appear as normal. The potential harm caused by the virus itself stems from the chances that the extra codes added by the virus may destroy some of the files during the process of infection and an apparent error in its programming may cause some of the infected files to grow up to megabytes in size. Robin Bijland, President of ESaSS-ThunderBYTE International comments that "Though the actions of the BOZA virus are not spectacular, it's message by specifically targeting the Windows 95 operating system is an all-too-familiar warning reminiscent of the impending trend that we have experienced following the discovery of DOS viruses during the 1980's." ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities, Version 7.0 for Windows 95, ready to detect BOZA will be released on CompuServe immediately. Howard H. Thaw, President of TCT-ThunderBYTE Corporation (USA) reports that "through special arrangements with CompuServe and WUGNET (The Windows Users Group Network) Windows 95 users around-the-world can download a free 30-day trial version of TBAV from the Windows Utility Forum, Library 23. For complete details .... According to Dr. Frans Veldman, author and architect of the world acclaimed ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities and CEO at ThunderBYTE Center for Anti-Virus Research "Our scientists and researchers have been working around-the-clock to study the etiology of BOZA and develop a solution, rather than a simple fix for this type of Windows 95 virus. Our TbScan engine, the heart of TBAV has been significantly updated and will be released to the world within the next few hours." In the past decade the impact of computer viruses has grown from a curiosity to a problem threatening millions of dollars worth of valuable information and data. That growth has spawned a wide range of anti-virus solutions from a multitude of developers. One anti-virus developer had always stood apart from the crowd. ThunderBYTE. According to Sean Nadeau, Director or Technical Support for ThunderBYTE in North America, ".. from the outset, scientists at the ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Research Center have always focused on understanding the mechanisms of viral behavior and the techniques used by virus writers to manipulate PC hardware. With that understanding has come the knowledge necessary to render those techniques ineffective, making ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus software one of the best solutions for computer users." Created in Europe in the 1980s to combat the growing threat of intelligent, sophisticated viruses around the world, TBAV Utilities are essential tools in the professional approach to new virus detection. By combining signature-based scanning and cryptographic checksum control with unique heuristic analysis, generic decryption, and proprietary real code emulation, TBAV is able to detect and decrypt all known and unknown viruses. Because of these multiple security levels and updates every two months, TBAV never becomes obsolete. ThunderBYTE can be contacted via: International: ESaSS-ThunderBYTE International (+31 2464-22282); CompuServe: 74514, 3046; North America: TCT-ThunderBYTE Corporation (1-800-667-8228) 613-930-4444, CompuServe:70754,366, Internet: info@thunderbyte.com, http://www.thunderbyte.com