One in every 145 e-mails sent and received by small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during January 2003 contained a virus, according to VIA NET.WORKS UK, a provider of managed Internet services for business. This figure represents a 12 percent reduction in viruses spread by e-mail after the peak in December when nearly 1 in 130 e-mails were found to be infected. However, January's figure is still 37 percent higher than levels detected in October and November when Bugbear was wreaking havoc around the world.

"With viruses like Bugbear, Klez, Avril Lavigne and Hybris all doing the rounds in January, we've recognised a significant upturn in the number of infected e-mails," said Jeff Meulman, managing director, VIA NET.WORKS UK. "Legitimate business operations are in danger of being choked by viruses. In order to prevent this happening, firms need to make sure they are always protected against all the very latest threats."

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