An Internet virus, dubbed "blaster," has crashed tens of thousands of computers in China since the start of the week, hampering company networks and frustrating home users.

More than 80% of computers in China have been hit by computer virus by June 2003. [newsphoto.com.cn]

Sources with the Ministry of Public Security said the "worm" was part of a co-ordinated electronic attack that exploited one of the most serious flaws yet discovered in Microsoft Corp's dominant Windows operating systems. But the exact origin of the virus still remains a mystery.

The "worm" was first reported in the United States on Monday and, while appearing not to delete files or otherwise cause permanent damage, it knocked many computers off-line. Non-Microsoft systems were not vulnerable.

The ministry sources, reflecting on the cases in China, said the virus struck the normal operating functions of computers as users logged on to the Internet, or while they were using some functions of Microsoft Office software.

Computers being attacked by the virus had slower operational speeds or frequently restarted for no apparent reason.

Li Xue, a senior technology consultant with Kingsoft Co, which provides anti-virus software, said his company started getting reports about a new virus early this month.

But the symptoms being brought by the virus did not start appearing en masse until this week.

Only limited problems were reported initially, but "the tendency is rising quickly and we're getting more reports of attacks this week," Li said.

On Tuesday alone, more than 2,000 customers called the company for urgent technical support.

Other major domestic anti-virus software firms also reported thousands of such attacks on their customers on Monday and Tuesday.

Common ways to fend off the infection have been posted on various websites.

Computer users can log on to related anti-virus websites like www.kingsoft.com and www.rising.com.cn to download programs to kill the "worm."

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