Pikachu virus

Pikachu Virus
Common name Poké Virus
Type Computer virus
Operating system(s) affected Windows 9x
Written in Visual Basic

The Pikachu virus, sometimes referred to as Poké Virus, was a computer virus believed to be the first computer virus geared at children due to its incorporation of Pikachu from the Pokémon series. It arrived in the form of an e-mail titled "Pikachu Pokemon" [sic] with the body of the e-mail containing the text "Pikachu is your friend."[1] Opening the attached executable met users with an image of Pikachu, along with a message stating, "Between millions of people around the world I found you. Don’t forget to remember this day every time MY FRIEND."[2] The virus itself appeared in the attachment to the email as a file named "PikachuPokemon.exe".[3]

It was often compared to the Love Bug, though the Pikachu virus was noted to be far less dangerous and slower in its dissemination.[4]

Spread

The virus was mainly spread through Microsoft Outlook email attachments. The email containing the attached virus propagated through infected users by sending itself to all contacts in the user's Outlook address book.[5]

Execution

When the user clicked on the attachment, PikachuPokemon.exe added the lines "del C:\WINDOWS" and "del C:\WINDOWS\system32" to the file "autoexec.bat" These commands would be executed at the next boot, attempting to delete two critical directories of the Windows operating system.[6] However, users would be given a prompt asking whether or not they wanted to delete those folders.[7] It is believed that this defect may be the reason that the Pikachu virus did not become more widespread and cause more damage to computer systems.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Szor, Peter (February 13, 2007). "W32.Pokey.Worm". Symantec. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  2. ↑ "Pikachu Virus Begins to Grow". 24 August 2000. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Pikachu: Threat Description". Virus and threat descriptions. F-Secure Corporation. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Staff writer (November 10, 2000). "Pikachu virus hits North America". CBC News. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Pokemon virus contained". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  6. ↑ "Pikachu". Panda Security. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  7. ↑ Don Singleton. "Pikachu Virus". Tulsa Computer Society. Archived from the original on February 28, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  8. ↑ Staff writer (August 24, 2000). "Pokemon turns nasty in new computer virus". Independent Online. Retrieved March 3, 2012.

Further reading

  • Staff writer (August 28, 2000). "Pikachu Virus Targeting Children". Reuters. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
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