The Symantec AntiVirus Research Centre (SARC) has discovered a new variant of the recent Melissa virus and warned that it can be distributed via electronic mail (e-mail) attachments. As with the original virus, the receiver of an e-mail that contains the virus file cannot be infected if they do not open the e-mail attachment. SARC said computer users can protect their machines from the new variant by ensuring their anti-virus software is up to date with the definition for the new variant.

Updated definitions will be available for Norton AntiVirus users via the products' built-inLiveUp-date technology, as well as the Symantec Web Site. While the original Melissa virus uses Microsoft Outlook to send an infected document to up to 50 people, the new variant uses Outlook to send an infected document up to 60 per cent of the entries in the address book. Subject line of the e-mail message is developed from a random combination of six phrases. SARC warned that the virus could spread in Asia if users do not update virus definitions.