No recent Nature Portfolio content available. Research from all publishers Recent investigations have made significant strides in refining our understanding of computer virus dynamics.

Although the virus didn't cause serious damage, it displayed the phone number of the brothers' computer shop for repairs. 'It was some dumb little practical joke.' ...

Computer users are advised not to open any "gone.scr" e-mail attachments, or any other attachments they are not expecting, and to update their anti-virus software at least weekly.