Computer Virus Is Due to Strike Today, Expert Warns

A computer virus named after one of J. R. R. Tolkien’s fictional characters from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy is due to activate itself today, destroying files in personal computers with the message “Frodo Lives.”

The relatively obscure virus was first detected about 10 months ago. About three reports of Frodo’s existence in PC software have been coming in each week since then, according to an industry group that monitors computer colds.

“It’s a nasty little virus, and it is out there,” said John McAfee, chairman of the Computer Virus Industry Assn. “It’s being reported with increasing frequency.”

Computer virus investigators have ascertained that Frodo is designed to remain dormant until Sept. 22, the birthday of the character in Tolkien’s popular fantasy.

It is known by several other names, including 4096, a reference to the number of bytes it consumes when it penetrates a computer program.

Nonetheless, some experts predict that the scope of Frodo’s destruction will be limited.

“This one is relatively minor,” said Pamela Kane, author of “V.I.R.U.S. Protection,” a book published last fall.

Viruses have become increasingly more common, but experts say they are often merely inconveniences unless they invade computers of companies with lots of machines.

“It’s a minor consideration for a company until its computers catch one,” Kane said. “Once you’ve gotten one, your attitude changes a great deal.”

Some viruses are capable of mixing up programs and wiping out data on hard drives, passing from computer to computer when users share software or connect their machines to networks.

Frodo, like others, is expected to activate itself only on contaminated computer programs that are not subjected to virus scanner devices.