HOTMAIL users have been warned to be wary of a new form of worm virus designed specially to attack their accounts.

The computer virus was activated recently and is likely to break out in China anytime this week, according to Internet experts with the Tianjin-based National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center.

A Hotmail account will be attacked when the user logs on to receive and send e-mails. The virus will spread quickly by automatically e-mailing other addresses available in the attacked accounts, said the center, adding that the virus would cause heavy losses to the users.

The damage caused by the virus will increase as the number of Hotmail users grows quickly, the experts said.

Other viruses which could break out this week will not cause major damage to computers, as long as users update their anti-virus software, according to the center.

Meanwhile, the virus center also reminded computer users to be wary of some big holes in the Office software released by Microsoft last week. The experts said these holes could be used by hackers to invade a computer and even control it.

Editor: Wing