Firms still unprepared for email viruses

Spread of Nimda worm highlights lax security

Businesses are still not prepared for the onslaught of the latest email viruses, security experts have claimed.

Companies around the world have been struck by the Nimda worm, which targets Microsoft-based PCs and web servers. It appears in a user's inbox with varied subject messages and an attachment called readme.exe. The virus uses multiple methods of infection via email, network shares and websites.

Security software vendor Symantec has claimed that, in certain cases such as when machines do not have an updated version of Microsoft Outlook, the worm can infect machines without the user even clicking on the attachment.

Jack Clark, European product manager at antivirus firm McAfee, said: "Companies need to realise that, if they are running web pages or servers, they need to maintain them which means applying regular patches."

Nimda (admin spelled backwards) is the latest in a long line of viruses to hit businesses. Others have included Code Red, SirCam, Anna Kournikova and I Love You.

According to research from analyst IDC, the total European market for IT security products (software and hardware) will mushroom from $1.8bn last year to $6.2bn in 2005. By year-end 2005, hardware products will contribute more than 42 per cent to the total European security market revenue.

"The Nimda virus will once again provide a chance for resellers to increase their margins by talking to their customers about the latest patches," said Clark.

"This is a good time to approach customers and provide them with advice about how to avoid becoming a victim of the latest viruses, and to actually sell them security software," he added.