Virus Attacks School Computer Networks in Eastern Pafnhandle

A PC virus, which has targeted certain schools in Eastern Pafnhandle of West Virginia (USA), is causing huge trouble, according to officials. Earlier during August 2009, a certain malware crept into the PCs of the school networks at Jefferson, Morgan and Berkeley counties.

Dave Kenney, Director of Research and Technology for Berkeley's School Network, states that he is not aware how the malware infiltrated, as reported by Charleston Daily Mail on August 31, 2009.

Kenney said that they didn't think the malware entered the school's system via e-mail. It was most likely entered though a jump drive inadvertently brought into the school by someone.

However, officials said that the virus didn't result in any data loss nevertheless it slowed down computers considerably. In fact, once it slowed down the computers to an extent that the Virginia State was compelled to disconnect one router from among its total from Berkeley County since the school network's PCs nearly collapsed the state's network.

Paul Hercules, Instructional Technology Specialist, Jefferson County Schools, said that the trouble had started there too. According to him, the virus first hit his PC among all the computers within Jefferson's school network, He also added that although it had since been removed, it kept on emerging on other PCs, as reported by TMCNET on August 31, 2009.

Hercules added that he apprehended a similar emergency situation in his county like Berkeley's because the virus was beginning to show up there.

Meanwhile, the schools that have been infected are Martinsburg South Middle, Martinsburg High School, Musselman Middle, Orchard View Intermediate, Hedgesville Middle, Berkley Heights Elementary, Pikeside Learning Center and Potomack Intermediate.

The school officials state that not even the most recent antivirus program would eliminate the infection wholly and there were no patches obtainable for the operating systems. According to them, the malware seemed to target all Windows OS from XP to Vista; nevertheless, it spared the PCs running the recent OSs.

PC viruses are increasingly attacking schools nowadays, as one PC virus recently forced the employees of Robstown Independent School District to abandon digital communication when it infected the district's school network.

Related article: Virus Infects Through USB Drives

» SPAMfighter News - 9/21/2009