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