The virus infects class modules in Word and is Word 2000 aware. Versions of Word prior to Word 97 will not be affected by the Melissa virus. With respect to Word 2000, the virus uses the appropriate new security features to disable Word 2000's macro security warnings.

If, when a document is opened, the minute and the day are the same (for example, the time is 10:05 on 5 March), the virus will insert the text 'twenty-two, plus triple-word-score, plus fifty points for using all my letters. Game's over. I'm outta here.' into the document.