Melissa. I love you. Hahaha.
These are the innocent-sounding names of some of the recent high-risk e-mail viruses that have paralyzed workplaces across the globe.
Most recently, University students had unfortunate run-ins with Hybris, commonly known as the "hahaha" or "Snow White" virus. Hybris now is one of the most prevalent viruses on Grounds, according to the University's Information Technology and Communications office.
ITC has received over 150 calls per day in the last week about computer viruses, ITC Help Desk Manager George Payne said.
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Some users might see "hahaha" in the sender line of an e-mail message, read the childish message about Snow White and open the seemingly harmless attachment out of curiosity.
"The real issue is don't trust strangers and don't open attachments they send to you," said Chip German, director of policy and strategic planning at the Office of Information Technology.
All versions of Hybris propagate themselves via e-mail. But reading the text of an e-mail alone cannot initiate a virus - a computer can be infected only if the enclosed attachment is opened.
If users open the attachment, the virus will not take action immediately, so it seems like the person opened nothing harmful.
That is, until they get the spiral.
Hybris has a timing-release mechanism that allows people to unknowingly spread the virus by sending infected e-mail to mailing lists and friends.
After a few days, the computer could be disabled. Sometimes a spiral screensaver covers the entire screen. Other times it is impossible to perform operations on the computer.
"It can start the spiral, but we've had reports that it can also block access to certain sites like Norton, where you can download the latest anti-virus check," said Richard Berdel, ITC computer systems engineer.
Even if they do not capture Hybris's author, an even more puzzling question remains. The Hybris creator probably will not gain notoriety or monetary award. So what is his motivation for wreaking widespread computer havoc?
Payne suggests hackers write viruses just as a challenge.
"That is a question a lot of people ask," Payne said. "But it's a lot like asking, 'Why climb mountains?' Because it's there."
Other computer crimes may shed some light behind possible motivations for writing viruses. Last week, hackers temporarily broke into and shut down Microsoft.com, one of the most visited sites on the Internet.
German thinks that such an act may be one of many deliberate attempts to expose Microsoft's vulnerabilities and voice displeasure over its alleged software monopoly.
"Most of the stuff we see exploits Microsoft," he said. "They usually take advantage of something Microsoft builds in. It's an interesting thing, the creative things people do to attack the software giant."
Berdel and Computer Science Prof. Alf Weaver said hackers also might be encouraged by the fact that the United States does not have clear laws on computer-related crimes. Both are skeptical whether anyone will attempt to track down Hybris' creator.
"This is less likely to get the FBI involved because it hits individuals and not organizations," Berdel said.
Weaver's explanation of the Microsoft site shutdown gives the impression that these hackers simply are disgruntled people.
"I'm guessing there are those Ted Kaczynski types that don't want technology injecting into people's lives so quickly," Weaver said.
But this still may not explain simple annoyances like Hybris.
Berdel suggested hackers might have developed a gang crime mentality.
"They gain in notoriety within their clique," he said. "They're trying to outdo the other."
Psychology Prof. Darren Newtson said while this could be a possibility, there might be other motives. Hacking can be seen as a justifiable form of aggression, since the hacker is harming computers instead of people.
"A big issue is the anonymity," Newtson said. "You have not only human anonymity but also victim anonymity. We do know depersonalizing a victim enhances the aggressiveness of the aggressor."
Hackers may write viruses when they get frustrated with computer programs.
"You sometimes want to get your hand around the skinny little neck of the program," he said. "There's always the temptation to strike back"
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