Hackers plot huge attack on PC users

Hackers are preparing to launch a massive attack on millions of home PC users, experts have warned.

They believe the current explosion in the number of email viruses - including MyDoom, netsky and bagle - is laying the groundwork for a systematic attack. The experts suspect that organised crime syndicates could be involved.

Millions of computers across the world have been infected by one of the unprecedented number of viruses circulating.

Some viruses have been designed so that when they infect a computer, they install an "electronic backdoor". This can be used later to hack into the infected computer and access any file stored on the machine - including credit card and bank details.

Hackers are also able to send out vast amounts of junk email from the computer to everyone listed in its address book.

"Everything we are seeing at the moment points to a large attack in the near future," said Jeremy Ward of anti-virus firm Symantec.

"There is definitely something going on here. The recent spate of virus attacks has left millions of machines around the world with this electronic back door. There is a lot of money in sending junk emails, so we think it could be the work of professional criminals, not just a bored teenager.

"What we don't know is exactly what will happen or when."

Thirty per cent of all junk email sent is thought to come from home computers that have been hijacked without their owner's knowledge.

Graham Cluley, of anti-virus consultants Sophos, said: "The problem is this all happens in the background - the user has no idea their machine is effectively a zombie machine churning out junk email." New research has found that on average more than 200 viruses are created every month. Dozens of new viruses hit the internet over the weekend.

Most do not disable computers, so users will carry on working on them unaware that they are vulnerable to hackers.

"There really isn't an end in sight here. People will keep seeing these virus emails for a long time to come," said Mr Cluley.

"The problem is also affecting popular people more. The virus works by sending itself to everyone in an address book, so if you're in a lot of other people's address books, you are going to suffer."