Net chat forum attacked by Windows virus

NEWS Internet Relay Chat has been hit by a Trojan Horse virus, which could affect as many as 15,000 of its users. The global chat network was infected with a virus programmed to retrieve a file from the GeoCities Web site. Once the file had been retrieved and the machine infected, hackers can then take control of the machine once the program has been installed. However, Richard MacMillan, director at anti-virus software company Second Sight, claims the whole idea sounds far-fetched. Describing it as a work of fiction, he said: "There are far too many variables for something like this to work." Robin Duke-Woolley, senior analyst at Schema, took the problem more seriously, saying: "These people should be squashed." He added that the only way to stop this from happening is "to keep updating your anti-virus software". The bug attacks Microsoft Windows 95 and 98 operating systems. If found on a machine it has to be wiped off or the operating system will have to be reinstalled.