AT&T;, IBM Brace Against Virus Attack : Computers: The deadly program, labeled Datacrime, was called ‘very, very rare, but very destructive’ by one industry expert.

Computer companies, including some in Orange County, are taking seriously the threat of a computer virus attack later this week and are advising employees to take precautions to protect their systems.

American Telephone & Telegraph Co. and International Business Machines Corp. have both issued internal memos warning staff members about the impending virus, called Datacrime, which is expected to be activated Thursday or Friday.

At McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co. in Huntington Beach, computer specialists have followed the guidelines of a government advisory that suggests copying recently purchased software programs.

“It is something they feel they have taken precautions against,” said Sheila Carter, a company spokeswoman.

A computer virus is a destructive program in a computer system that can damage or destroy data. It is called a virus because it acts like a biological virus--it can travel from an “infected” disk or program and infect other computers.

Computer industry experts say Datacrime is an especially dangerous virus that could infect older IBM personal computers and compatibles based on Intel Corp.’s 8086 chip.

“It’s very, very rare but very destructive,” said Russell Brand, chief technical adviser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif. Brand said his group has examined Datacrime in an infected computer.

Since networked computer systems are so widely used in major corporations, universities and by the government, a virus could disrupt thousands of machines. A virus also puts an organization at risk if its computer is penetrated by outsiders or exposed to programs of unknown origin.

Brand said Datacrime is unique because it can wipe out a complete hard disk. “Most viruses, you can put the data back together,” he said.

Without a hard disk drive, there is no way of getting to information on the disk, except to re-format that sector--thus destroying all the files.

At AT&T; Bell Laboratories, employees were warned not to use software from unknown sources and to back up data.

IBM, which introduced an anti-viral software product last week, said it is advising its employees to begin using its new software and to make copies of their data.

IBM’s product scans IBM-compatible computer programs, looking for a change in programming patterns that may signify a computer virus.

Datacrime, also dubbed the Columbus Day virus because of this week’s Columbus Day holiday, has already infected a number of corporate systems and government installations.

Bill Jennings, a software engineer at Irvine-based Rainbow Technologies Inc., said he and some employees have taken precautions against the virus. Rainbow produces personal computer security devices that prevented unauthorized use of software programs and can protect against some types of viruses.

Jennings said the best precaution is to make backup copies of data stored in a computer. He also advises against the use of computer game software or programs obtained through computer “bulletin boards.”

“It’s sort of similar to how you keep from getting AIDS,” Jennings said. “You don’t share computer programs between people. If you share programs, the likelihood of getting an infected program increases greatly.”

Jennings said he backed up all the data on his IBM personal computer earlier this week and tested his software to try to detect any sign of the virus.

“We haven’t detected any virus on our PCs here,” he said. “On Thursday, just in case, I’m going to make backup copies again and watch it very closely on Monday.”

Experts do not know the source of Datacrime, except that it was first discussed publicly at a conference for computer hackers in Europe this summer.

Brand and other experts said there are other computer viruses rumored among computer hackers--one estimate is that about 77 viruses are in circulation.

One of the oldest viruses is called Jerusalem and has about 12 strains, or variations. Jerusalem, which was discovered by a professor at Hebrew University, may also awaken later this week.

Computer viruses became international news last November when Robert Morris, a Cornell University graduate student, wrote and unleashed a program that eventually got into one of the largest computer networks in the United States.

“People are worried about (viruses), especially those that rely on their PCs,” said Michael Riemer, executive vice president of Foundationware Inc., a consulting firm in Cleveland. “But what viruses have done is forced people to look at security and system management in place.”

Virus Detectors Used

Increased concern about viruses has led to more anti-viral software programs on the market, some available at no cost through software-sharing programs.

Some companies have begun incorporating virus detectors in some of their programs, such as Apple Computer Inc.’s Applelink and Claris Corp.’s Macwrite.

But these products are not expected to protect against all traces of viruses, experts say, and one custom-designed anti-virus product has reportedly damaged data used by the government.

Computer retailers say the latest scare surrounding the Datacrime virus has not affected sales of off-the-shelf anti-virus software, now becoming more visible at retailers.

“We haven’t seen any increased demand from Datacrime,” said Richard Cooperman, a sales manager at Computer Factory in New York. A salesman at Egghead Software said he saw no increased sales volume in anti-virus products recently.

Mike Odawa, president of the Software Development Council in Palo Alto, said he is not anticipating any big problems because of Datacrime. “I think Friday the 13th will come and everyone will be disappointed by it,” he said.

Times staff writer David Olmos in Orange County and Reuters contributed to this report.