Virus? What Virus?

After last week’s column mentioned IBM’s new anti-virus Web site, two Pasadena-based virus researchers wrote to point out that they too have a Web site devoted to debunking myths about computer viruses.

The site is the creation of George Smith, editor of the anti-virus Crypt Newsletter, and Bob Rosenberger, a virus myths researcher. In addition to providing information about virus hoaxes, the site is in the midst of soliciting votes for the “1996 John McAfee Awards for Computer Virus Hysteria.”

The name is a not-too-subtle swipe at McAfee, founder of one of the leading anti-virus software companies and, according to some, a frequent contributor to the media hype that often fuels virus scares.

McAfee, who has since left the company that bears his name, was widely quoted as predicting a mass of computer failures in the 1992 Michelangelo virus scare. He lost some credibility when Michelangelo turned out to be a dud.

In listing the nominees for the Virus Hysteria awards, Smith and Rosenberger take jabs at companies they say profit by promoting virus scares, as well as journalists who are criticized for being too gullible in reporting the scares.

You can vote for your favorite virus hypester by visiting https://www.kumite.com/myths

Greg Miller covers high technology for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-7830 and at greg.miller@latimes.com