THE Australian High Tech Crime Centre (AHTC) has warned computer users not to open an email claiming to be from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) because it contained a damaging virus.
AHTC director, federal agent Kevin Zuccato, said users receiving emails from generic FBI or CIA addresses should immediately delete them.
Those emails state the recipient's computer Internet protocol address had been lodged on more than 30 illegal websites and requests that they open an attached file for further details.
But doing so will unleash the Sober virus.
"What is worrying about this virus is its ability to multiply by copying itself to the email address book and distributing infected emails to the listed addresses," Mr Zuccato said.
The virus also displays a computer dialogue box noting that no viruses, Trojans or spyware have been found, leaving the computer vulnerable to further attack.
"Computer owners and internet users should always exercise the utmost caution by deleting suspicious or unsolicited emails and ensuring that firewalls, virus scanners and intrusion detection devices are up to date and properly configured," he said.
