What on-earth happened?!
On Friday (29th January 2005) our network was hit by at least one "Trojan-Horse" kind of virus.
Many computers were hit. On our first reaction to the attack we counted 200 infections on 15 computers
The network came to a standstill and we immedietly got underway with a defence plan.

Are you doing anything about it?
All areas were shut down manualy at main-hub to stop the virus from spreading between network areas.
( This is very much like shutting down partitions in a submarine when it starts getting flooded)
We then started opening up one area after the other, sometimes more than one at a time, and checking every computer in that particular area. All this to try opening up various areas as quick as possible
while keeping the attack at a level we could actually work with.

So can we work on the internet?
At this stage only those who are physicaly connected can work on the "Broadband"
Anyone who has a Dial-up connection, can work with it and we recommend people do so untill we can bring this virus down to it's knees. It's slow but it works

What are we actualy doing about it?
Five people have been recruted so far, to help with this defense plan and we are slowly but surely getting on top of things. We are working on various levels: Checking each computer with the built-in and other, defense software. Keeping a constant 24-hour watch on the network from an emergancy-built headquarters. Studying the situation constantly, trying to pin-point the source(s) of trouble and deal with them
In parallel, we are in contact with various help sources from outside, experts and experienced people in the field.
There is a lot of detective work going on, searching and hunting down the virus, pinpointing it's latest point of attack, learning new tools to deal with this virus. Keeping an eye open for re-infected computers, and at the same time planning for tomorrow too. After all we clean up everything and what happens tomorrow?.....
I will be placing various tools and sites that can be used by every network user, to help clean up this mess, each at his/her level of knowledge and understanding.

I thank you for your patience and understanding

David Ellman