PETALING JAYA: Computer users might have to contend with a sudden increase in the number of viruses floating around the Internet when the clock rolls over to the year 2000, according to Jason Matusow, Year 2000 Enterprise product manager at Microsoft Corp.

Virus creators would be trying to outdo each other to create the best virus of the millennium, adding to the confusion of the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem, he said.

Microsoft has teamed up with nine other anti-virus developers to address the problem by extending their anti-virus software trial-periods from 30 days to 90 days.

"Anybody can download the software--they would need the extra protection," Matusow said.

He also cautioned anyone receiving e-mail with an executable file as an attachment--apparently from Microsoft--to delete the file.

"We don't send executables via e-mail, and only distribute such files through our website and CDs," he said.

Meanwhile, Microsoft said it had tested over 4,000 of its products and has developed Y2K patches for 97% of them. The remaining 3% are older software and the company does not plan to issue patches for them.

Users for some of these older software, like Word 5.0 for DOS, can obtain free Y2K-compliant upgrades from the company, and do not need patches.

Microsoft also said it has put in the necessary infrastructure to handle Y2K problems during the rollover period. Its call centres would be manned around the clock in various places in the world, including Sydney and New Zealand.

However, Microsoft Malaysia declined to release details of its plans for Malaysian users during this period, but said it would make an announcement later.

Microsoft has also released the final version of its Microsoft Year 2000 resource CD, which updates a host of its products.