Hoax antivirus warning is a virus

An e-mail virus has been released that claims to be warning users about a new virus.

The virus - dubbed VBS/Hard-A - states it is an advisory message from anti-virus specialists Symantec.

If the attachment is opened it triggers a message telling victims not to be surprised at their own stupidity.

The virus is the latest in a growing list using Outlook Express e-mail software to attempt to spread across computer systems worldwide.

This time the hoax e-mail is titled FW: Symantec Anti-Virus Warning and invites the user to click its attachment for information on the latest outbreak.

It describes the recent Kournikova and Homepage viruses by forwarding copies of itself to all the contacts in a victim's address book.

Symantec have played down the threat and give it a low chance of duping enough e-mail users to cause damage to corporate servers.