By Chris Holbrook, 10 May 2001 16:34
NEWS An email from Sophos, alerting users to the dangers of the rapidly spreading bug, was mistakenly intercepted by McAfee software, which flagged it as an email containing the damaging virus. The false alarm from McAfee prompted a deluge of irate McAfee customers to flood the helpline of rival anti-virus vendor Sophos. Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said his account team has been trying to contact its largest customers to reassure them that the virus alert was benign. Cluley said: "McAfee had been crowing about how they could detect virus outbreaks before they happen. I would recommend that they temper their fuddy heuristic detection system, as it's caused us more trouble than the virus itself." He added: "I don't believe it was a conspiracy theory, but more of a cock-up if they couldn't tell the difference between a virus and a press release. Still, not terribly pleasant all the same." McAfee was unavailable for comment.
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