Cyber crime experts say we are facing two serious new threats to the world's computers.
One is an updated version of the Conficker virus and set to activate itself on April Fools Day.
The other is a cyber spy network called ghostnet.
The ghostnet spyware was discovered after the Dalai Lama asked Canadian computer experts to run an anti-virus check on his PC.
They found a spy-ring some believe was created by the Chinese government.
Some of the information that has been taken from these servers appears to have been used by security forces in China to warn off possible supporters of the Dalai Lama,” says Computerworld editor Rob O’Neill.
The Government Communication Security Bureau says there is no sign New Zealand has been targeted.
Two years ago government computers were hacked, although no sensitive information was taken.
The revelations come amidst new concerns about the Conficker virus, which is supposed to mutate on Wednesday.
“It is the day for the worm to phone home and ask what it is supposed to do next,” says PC World’s Ted Gibbons.
Some had suggested Conficker would try to bring down the internet - but a mass spam attack is now considered more likely.
That is because whoever created Conficker wants to sell their creation to organised crime.
“These guys want to make money, they actually don’t want you to know that you have got the worm, so they are going about this as quietly and stealthily as they can,” says Mr Gibbons.
Many organisations - like the Ministry of Health - struggled to get rid of it, because it only takes one computer to reinfect the entire system.
Microsoft recommends computer owners use up-to-date anti-virus software and make sure their PC automatically installs the latest approved Microsoft updates.
The New Zealand Government already has extensive checks in place to protect criticial infrastructure like powerlines and dams.
But a Government-wide review is underway to increase New Zealand's defences against cybercrime - this could include the creation of a cyber defence response unit to deal with major threats.
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