Web on brink of virus disaster
The internet is on the brink of another massive virus attack, experts warned today.
The new virus, called Bagle, sends itself through an email with the subject line "hi". When opened, it appears to be a test message and opens the computer's calculator software.
However, it is actually searching the machine's hard drive for email addresses to send itself to, and opening an electronic backdoor computer hackers can use to take control of the machine.
Anti-virus spotters first discovered Bagle on Sunday in Australia, and claim it may have already infected millions of computers around the world.
It has been found in 87 countries, and is spreading "very quickly" through Britain's internet users.
Because it spreads itself by searching through electronic address books, it can often appear to be from a friend.
Graham Cluley, of anti-virus software company Sophos, said: "We may see a massive number of Bagle emails today."