NATION : IBM Personal Computer Virus Set to Attack in Month, Group Warns

NEW YORK —  A harmful but rare computer virus is set to attack IBM-compatible personal computers after Oct. 12, experts in computer security said today.

The virus cripples personal computers’ hard disks, where programs and data are stored, by wiping out the directory sections known as the partition table and file allocation table.

“It’s like taking away the index from the library,” said John McAfee, chairman of the Computer Virus Industry Assn. in Santa Clara, Calif. The industry association says it has created a program that will detect the virus and another one that will eradicate it. Both are available free from computer bulletin boards or from the association itself.

But McAfee said the virus, while unusually harmful, is so rare that most PC owners do not need to be overly concerned.