New PC Virus Outbreak

Time to ensure that your firewall, anti-virus and Windows software are current with up-to-date versions and updates.

"One in every 22 emails sent across the internet is currently infected by the Sober-N worm -- making this one of the biggest virus outbreaks of the year," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "All internet users must secure their systems with up-to-date anti-virus software and ensure that they never open unsolicited email attachments. No-one should be fooled into thinking that email viruses are a thing of the past."

Sophos reports that the worm fooled users into opening its dangerous email attachment by using a variety of tricks -- including using a number of different subject lines and message texts, and sending itself in either German or English language depending on what it suspected was the natural language of the recipient.

"In particular, this worm appears to have caused problems by posing as an offer of free tickets for the soccer World Cup tournament in Germany next year," continued Cluley. "Many people found the prospect of free tickets to the prestigious sporting event just too hard to resist."