Computer users will continue to be beset with worm and virus-related problems until they have automatic security updates in place, Microsoft says.
More than half a million computers worldwide are reported to have been infected by the "Blaster" worm, designed to repeatedly call up a Microsoft website, but its spread appearsto have slowed considerably.
In New Zealand Microsoft was reported to be receiving 3000 calls a day from people wanting help to protect against the worm.
"We are seeing the worm slowing down or spreading less as people get their machines protected against it," Microsoft NZ spokesman Terry Allen told NZPA today.
"It was pretty busy -- let's not underrate that -- but we are now seeing that with that communication that it is slowing down."
People who had automated system updates in place or had a system to regularly update their computers were never affected by the worm, but the latest scare had raised the awareness of people who did not have those systems in place, Mr Allen said.
Yesterday a range of corporations -- including Television New Zealand -- reported worm-related problems. However, most companies should have been unaffected, Mr Allen said.
"Generally we see most organisations do have good security processes in place...but there are still some that are looking at tightening their processes. Some of those people have been caught out this time."
The blaster worm had been another "quantum leap" in virus awareness, Mr Allen said.
Microsoft has warned viruses using the same infiltration method as the blaster worm could be more malicious than the original, so computer users needed to continually update protection for their machines.
