XPUM04@prime-a.central-services.umist.ac.uk (Anthony Appleyard) (04/22/91)
From UK newspaper 'Sunday Telegraph', 21 April 1991:-
[NEWS ROUND-UP] [Fraud Office is hit by computer virus]
The mainframe computer used at the Serious Fraud Office in London has been
invaded by a rogue program "virus". (writes CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT.) The
virus, known as cascade because the letters on the screen appear to fall
off and form a sort of alphabet soup at the foot, was discovered last week
at the Elm Street [in London?] headquarters of the SFO. Officials were
immediately concerned for the details of cases under investigation
involving tens of millions of pounds, which are stored on the computer.
Experts were called to tackle the virus, which first appeared in Europe
about 18 months ago and has rampaged across computer screens ever since It
is one of 400 types which have caused havoc in research at hospitals and
universities around the world. Although the virus now has been eliminated
SFO officials still do not know how it weas introduced into the system.
.............................................................
[A.Appleyard: Note the word 'mainframe' although Cascade is a PC virus. I
take it that the affected computer is their "main (= chief) computer" and
the newspaper's "scientific reporter", who is likely a "jack of all
(scientific) trades and a master of none", muisunderstood; or a newspaper
subeditor mishandled the article after him.
{A.Appleyard} (email: APPLEYARD@UK.AC.UMIST), Mon, 22 Apr 91 08:07:44 BST