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COPIED FROM SKY NEWS WEBSITE A new computer virus which is capable of accessing credit card details is spreading quickly across the Internet. The MyDoom "worm" has circulated so fast via email that anti-virus firms have raised threat warnings to "high". If loaded, the virus allows a hacker to break in and record everything being typed on the user's computer, including passwords and credit card numbers. Security experts warn that the "sneaky" new virus is tricking people into thinking it is a legitimate email. The worm is contained in emails with random senders' addresses and subject lines. It masks itself as an innocuous text document or a file that the user's computer appears unable to read. "This one is almost begging you to click on the attachment," Symantec representative Sharon Ruckman said. While the body of the email varies, it usually includes what appears to be an error message, such as: "The message cannot be represented in 7-bit ASCII encoding and has been sent as a binary attachment." When loaded, some versions of the worm launch Notepad and show random characters. At the same time it replicates itself and installs a "keystroke" program that allows a hacker to access the computer. MyDoom is already on track to hit even more machines than Nimda, a 2001 worm that spread widely with an attachment that read "Readme.exe." SIOUX

Up until today I have never had any strange emails. Today I had 2. One was from hepldesk@virginholidays (I've never been on a Virgin holidays website) saying that they had detected a virus. It also had an attachment. The other one had an email address with loads of random letters and numbers and also had an attachment. After reading the threads on these boards I decided to delete them straight away without opening the attachments. I'm rather dim when it comes to computers, internet and emails so can somebody tell me (a) do you think these attachments contained viruses, and (b) why would I suddenly start getting dodgy emails? Could somebody else have passed the virus on? Jeanette

I have had about 7 in the last 24 hours. They usually say Hi or Hello and say they are returning mail to you. Norton picked them up. There is an article in todays Daily Maill about it. Regards Helena

I warned all my friends yesterday about it, & got a message back from one of them that he had just recieved a simular email & has deleted it.....Thank goodness !!!! I wonder why AVG did not pick it up. Im up to date with my updates. Unless its such a new virus, that they havent a chance to deal with & recognise it. Elaine x

It's Called the MY DOOM Virus Check out http://www(.)sky(.)com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12980847,00.html NEVER open something, when you're unaware of it's origin! Sioux

I had this virus sent yesterday, but it was quarantined on my system by Norton. W32.Novarg.A@mm W32/Mydoom@MM [McAfee], WORM_MIMAIL.R [Trend] January 26,

This is a new worm which was discovered yesterday. It can start with Hi, hi, Hello, hello,Error, Mail delivery system, Mail transaction failed, Server report, Status. Lots of other things. I think the Virus protectors such as Symantic are onto it now but be aware and do not open an attachment with an email from someone you don't recognise. ann Glos

My norton anti virus pick up two tonight, only checked them this morning.

It said something about mail notification in the title. Ekaine x

Hi All.... I have just recieved an email From a b fowel at ntlworld ( a bogus name I think ) With visable data, plus an attatchment which I diddn't open. I tried to forward the email to tesco net support along with a message not to open the attatchment.----------- An error message came up stating that I never had enough memory to send the email.---------- I deleted the email immediatly.----- -----------I ran my AGV antivirus but it did not find any viruses. ------ Please be carefull & don't open any emails with attatchments, which look suspicious.----- Elaine x ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// UPDATE................................................. The email I was sent was almost certainly the new MY DOOM virus........................................................................ Please don't rely on your antivirus picking this one up.------mine diddn't !!!