ATTN: Business Editor	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 9th, 2001
‘MORE NETWORKS IN REGION VULNERABLE TO VIRUS ATTACKS’ Maktoob.com advises email users to implement security measures even as Code Red II rears its ugly head   Dubai: A leading Internet service has urged web surfers to ensure optimum security for their computers and networks, citing the recent havoc caused by the “Code Red” worm and distribution of spam mail as its major concerns. “The destruction caused by the Code Red worm is an example of how even the most advanced computers or networks are exposed to the most dangerous attacks,” explained Samih Toukan, CEO of Maktoob.com (www.maktoob.com), the leading online Arab community. “While the worm is transmitted through online communication, subscribers should choose a reliable email service that guarantees them maximum protection against such vicious attacks.” The “Code Red” bug, whose origins are still unclear, has infiltrated hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide, within hours of its first identified outbreak on July 19, according to news reports. The denial of service attacks unleashed by the virus bombards a website with a crippling amount of traffic, making it inaccessible to legitimate users. In its first attack itself on July 19, the worm infected more than 350,000 web sites in less than nine hours, and immobilised around 400,000 computers in its second attack. The worm scans the Internet, identifies vulnerable systems and infects them by installing itself in those systems. Unlike the more conventional computer viruses, a worm can propagate itself without user intervention. Worm attacks can affect business and personal use of the Internet, disrupting e-commerce and Internet communications.   Toukan’s statement came even as experts all over the world reported the emergence of the second generation of the worm on Saturday, saying that the new derivative, Code Red II, was proving to be even more malicious and resilient than its predecessor. Damage to networks due to the new attack is estimated to be around US$ 2 billion, according to news reports. While the first version of Code Red scans for new victims using random numeric Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, Code Red II scans addresses grouped together. While any major damage is yet to be reported in the Middle East, Toukan pointed out that the worm’s rapid proliferation made it just a matter of time when it would wreak havoc across the region. “Many computers here are vulnerable to virus attacks, particularly from email services that do not offer a virus scan facility,” he said. “The rapid spread of viruses such as ‘Code Red’ and ‘Melissa’ has forced many corporations to ensure complete virus protection from harmful incoming email.” Maktoob.com’s highly advanced Auto Scan Anti-Virus facility is designed to protect its vast number of memberships – currently standing at more than 1.3 million users and growing at 3,500 new users per day. The solution ensures optimum protection by not only cleaning harmful incoming email automatically but also scanning all outgoing messages, in turn, protecting the recipient’s computer system. “Our members have been protected so far from all harmful viruses,” explained Toukan. “Already Maktoob.com has detected and eliminated hundreds of thousands of files that were infected by Code Red and its derivatives, preventing considerable losses to our users. Also, business clients who use Maktoob.com’s communications solutions have been protected from network crashes as well as loss of data.” At the same time, Toukan voiced his concern over certain free email providers inundating their subscribers with unsolicited spam mail. He said that though the trend was on the rise internationally, Maktoob.com had no intention of revealing or selling the email addresses of their members to any outside agency, without prior permission from the members. “It is certainly annoying when your email address becomes public property,” Toukan added. “Email providers should recognise and respect the privacy of their subscribers before revealing their details to any other source. Maktoob.com will most certainly keep away from these marketing ploys, unless otherwise instructed by the members themselves.”   Maktoob.com (www.maktoob.com) has become a landmark development for the Arab world, emphasising the region’s growing importance as a key international IT player. Since its launch two years ago, Maktoob.com has played a crucial role in uniting Arabs worldwide by providing sophisticated and reliable web-based communications and community tools, including the Arab world’s first free bilingual Web-based email service. Maktoob.com is the first Arabic / English web-based email solutions provider and leading virtual community for Arabs around the world. Launched in October 1998, Maktoob.com gained instant success among Arabs around the world. It currently boasts of a membership base of more than 1.3 million registered users worldwide. Besides the free email service, the company offers a range of interactive web-based facilities including Voice Mail, WAP, a comprehensive business directory, Arabic music, chat, online auction, electronic greeting cards and information services.   For more details, please contact, Edward D’Mello Headline Public Relations Tel: 009714 – 3475006; Fax: 009714 – 3475013 e-mail: edward@headlinepr.com
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