Message is a Hoax

Sophos Anti-Virus has issued a warning about a hoax virus message currently being distributed around the world via e-mail and appearing on mobile phone screens.

The hoax text, which displays the message "Unavailable", falsely refers to Sophos in an attempt to make the hoax seem genuine.

Hoaxes are false virus warnings describing nonexistent but extremely dangerous-sounding viruses.

Sophos Australia managing director, Richard Baldry said the hoax is generating enquiries at the company's support desks around the world.

"Hoaxes often cause as many problems as genuine viruses because of the amount of e-mail bandwidth they take up when users are asked to forward them to everyone they know," he said.

"Reports of mobile viruses have been greatly exaggerated; even WAP phones are simply not powerful enough yet to be infected by viruses."