BONN, Oct 27: There’s a new virus on the loose — dubbed “Bugbear” — and computer users need to take action to update their virus software throughout the world. PC users need not fear a “wave of infection” yet, says Michael Dickopf from the BSI, but the rate of infection has been increasing rapidly.

At risk are users of Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. The risk of infection is considered “moderate” for all users around the world, although for English language users the risk is considered “high.”

The discrepancy comes from the fact that “Bugbear” employs a specific command that is available only in the English language versions of Windows. “While there are certainly some such versions in non English-speaking countries, it won’t affect most users running other language versions of Windows,” Dickopf says.

Users of any language version of Windows are not entirely in the clear, though.

The virus “replicates” itself over e-mail by exploiting a security hole in the Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express mail programs. The worm is activated when the infected e-mail is opened or viewed with the auto preview function.—dpa