A widespread and dangerous Microsoft Windows vulnerability, spam e-mail messages, and human frailty have combined in recent weeks to produce a flood of new Internet worm attacks, say experts at leading antivirus and e-mail security companies.

August alone saw four major worm infections, according to antivirus company Symantec. As a result, it is one of the busiest months for antivirus vendors in recent memory.

"Taken all together, this has been a more intense week, in terms of virus activity, than any we've seen," says Chris Belthoff, senior security analyst at antivirus company Sophos.

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