The September 11 day of remembrance has been used as bait to trick Internet users into spreading new mass-mailing viruses.
Internet security software vendors yesterday warned of two Windows-based e-mail worms, Chet and Nedal, which exploit interest on the anniversary of the attacks.
Leung Siu-cheong, senior consultant at the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team co-ordination centre, said there were no local reports of these worms being circulated.
'We consider these new worms as low-risk threats,' he said, at the same time urging Internet users in Hong Kong to remain vigilant, update anti-virus programs, and treat all e-mails, even from known sources, with caution.
Worms move quickly around the Internet through e-mail, carried inside other files and documents sent as attachments with the initial message.
Previous malicious codes that used the September 11 attacks included W32/Vote and its variants, Septer, Anthrax and a number of hoax worms.