Computers 'face virus meltdown tomorrow'

A COMPUTER worm that has infected three million machines worldwide could cripple computers across London tomorrow, experts have warned.

The Conficker worm could be used to create a massive army of electronic spam email machines, or steal credit card numbers and passwords.

The worm - a type of computer virus - targets computers running Microsoft's Windows software and has spread to millions over the past several months, infecting machines on Royal Navy warships and last week inside the House of Commons. Tomorrow it is programmed to "phone home" for instructions. If it does result in a cyber attack, the huge number of affected machines would bring the internet to a virtual standstill - rendering email, banking and other systems unusable.

Experts admitted today they do not know what will happen. Graham Cluley of internet security firm Sophos said: "The system could turn into a network of 'zombie' PCs used to send email, or attack other websites. It may also be that nothing happens."

Mikko Hypponen, of antivirus software firm F-Secure, said: "It is scary thinking about how much control a hacker could have. They would have access to millions of machines."

Microsoft has offered users free software to remove the worm, and even offered a $250,000 reward for anyone who reveals its writers. But Ed Gibson, Microsoft's chief security adviser for the UK, said: "1 April is a classic date for anything like this to go off. But I would hate to say it is going to be unlike any other day."

PC users can protect against Conficker by ensuring their computer is up to date with the latest free security software from www.microsoft.com, updating antivirus software, and not opening unfamiliar email attachments.