"There is a deadly new computer virus being spread across the Internet
according to the Federal Communications Commisionsion (FCC) and an E-Mail 
message now criss-crossing the country. It cautions readers that if they 
receive an E-Mail message with the subject line "Good Times," not to read it 
or download it, and to delete in immediately.
   The FCC released the warning recently terming this "a matter of major 
importance to any regular user of the Internet."
   This virus rewrites the hard drive of the machine it is opened on, 
obliterating any and all files contained there.
   Apparently, this new computer virus was engineered by a user of America 
Online and is unparalleled in its destructive capability.
   Other, more well-known viruses such as Stoned, Airwolf, and Michaelangelo 
pale in comparison to the prospects of this newest creation. What makes this 
virus so terrifying, said the FCC, is the fact that no program needs to be 
exchanged for a new computer to be infected. It can be spread through existing 
E-Mail systems on the Internet and on-line services.
    Once a computer is infected, one of several things can happen. If the 
computer contains a hard drive, it will most likely be destroyed. If the 
program is not stopped, the computer's processor is placed in an nth-complexity
infinite biriary loop, which can severely damage the processor if left running 
that way. Unfortunately, most novice computer users, as well as many experienced
ones will not realize what is happening until it is far too late.
   There is one sure way of detecting what is now known as the "Good Times" 
virus.  It always travels to new computers the same way in a test E-Mail
message with the subject line reading simply "Good Times."
   Avoiding infection is easy once the file has been received - simply don't 
read it.  Loading the file into the mail server's ASCII buffer causes the "Good
Times" mainline program to initialize and execute.
   According to the FCC, the program is highly intelligent - it will send copies 
of itself to everyone whose E-Mail address is contained in a received-mail file 
or a sent-mail file, if it can find one. It will then begin destroying the 
computer it is running on.
   If you receive a file with the subject line "Good Times," do not read it and 
delete it immediately! The person who's name was on the "From:" line has been 
victimized by the virus and should be notified immediately.
   Regular E-Mail users are urged to warn friends and local system users, 
especially those who use America Online, of this newest threat to the Internet.