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Computer Virus Attacks York International's Norman Plant

Posted on: Wednesday, 17 August 2005, 18:00 CDT

Aug. 17--A computer worm that hit corporate systems nationwide is blamed for shutting down most of the manufacturing operations and sending 650 workers home at York International's Norman plant, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The W32.zotob worm attacked York computers using the Windows 2000 platform, forcing the plant to shut down its second and third shifts Monday and suspend operations Tuesday after only four hours, said Becky Payton, vice president for human resources.

"It affected all of our manufacturing operations, which would be about 650 people who had to go home," Payton said. "It's a really bad virus. You think you've got it fixed, and then you don't."

The zotob worm was blamed Tuesday for shutting down computers at CNN and ABC television networks, the New York Times and the Caterpillar Co. in Peoria. Ill.

At York, most manufacturing operations are controlled by computers running Windows 2000, Payton said. Windows XP users were affected to a lesser degree, she said. The York office and IT staffs remained on the job to work on the problem.

"I don't think at this point we know how we got it, but it's nasty," she said. "We can go only so far without computers, because that prints all of our work instructions, wiring diagrams, labels and models. Obviously, all of our schedules are tied to the computer."

The Norman location appeared to be the only York location affected by the worm. And a check with other people responsible for corporate data Tuesday revealed no other companies affected.

Oklahoma City-based Perimeter Technology Center provides data hosting services for more than 100 Oklahoma corporations, none of whom were reporting any problems by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, said John Parsons, Perimeter's chief executive officer.

At the Oklahoma City Computer Nerdz repair stores, the situation was similar, said Louis Rivera, manager of the store at 2812 W Country Club Drive. The company's technicians had not been dealing with the zotob worm by late afternoon, he said.

"So far none of our users or clients have made any mention or seen any signs of that worm," Rivera said. "Right now, due to the storms, we're having clients that are having problems with power supplies and (related issues)."

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Source: The Daily Oklahoman

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