W97M.Melissa.W

Due to the recent decrease in infection activity of this worm the threat severity rating has been lowered from 4 to 2. Virus definitions dated prior to January 18, 2001, detect this worm as W97M.Melissa.Variant. Definitions dated January 18, 2001, or later detect this worm as W97M.Melissa.W, and will fully repair it.

W97M.Melissa.W is a Word 97 macro virus. It has a payload that emails itself using Microsoft Outlook. The subject of the email message is:

Important Message From <your name>

This worm is functionally identical to the original W97M.Melissa.A worm that was discovered in 1999.