Giant virus still alive

A massive virus that even managed to disrupt New Zealand’s Ministry of Health computer systems has struck again, this time disrupting Houston’s justice system. The virus, labelled the “Conficker” or “Downandup” worm, has attacked more than nine million computers and is continuing at a rate of one million computers a day.

But the virus has taken hold of municipal court computer operations in Houston, Texas, forcing the system to shut down last Friday afternoon. Courtroom proceedings are not expected to continue until tomorrow night Australian time.

The virus affected computers operating on Microsoft Windows software, damaging the login process of the network. Over 475 computers in the system have been affected.

Court spokeswoman Gwendolyn Goins says she is unsure how many computers have been affected, and it is unlikely the virus was deliberately released into the court’s computer network.