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The clock is ticking on a dangerous computer virus programmed to delete
millions of Word files stored on PCs when it reaches the end of its
countdown on Friday.

Experts have warned that the Blackworm virus, which has also been named
Blackmal, Nyxem, MyWife and Tearec, could destroy vast amounts of
information when it is triggered, and could send unprotected businesses into
chaos. The malicious software strikes against machines powered by
Microsoft's near-ubiquitous Windows software.

According to SANS, the US-based internet security organisation, by January
26 around 300,000 computer systems, made up of potentially millions of
individual PCs, had already been infected by the virus. The organisation
said: "This worm is different and more serious than other worms for a number
of reasons. In particular, it will overwrite a user's files on February 3."

The list of file-types that the virus will hit and delete includes the most
commonly-used formats, including Word, Powerpoint and Excel documents.
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More at http://tinyurl.com/at299