"PC Virus Blackmail"

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"PC Virus Blackmail"

Information Week (12/16/91) No. 351, P. 40
Hunter, Philip

Abstract: A British court is considering claims made by the lawyers of U.S. scientist Joseph Popp, suspected of spreading a computer virus that damaged they systems of scientists around Britain, that their client is mentally ill. Popp allegedly sent out more than 20,000 copies of a disk purportedly containing information about AIDS that actually contained a data-corrupting computer virus. The disks were sent to science centers throughout the United Kingdom. Prosecutors claim Popp tried to blackmail the scientists affected by the virus by asking them to send him $350 each in exchange for a means to counteract the virus.

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