BBC admits sending virus to Archers listeners

The BBC has admitted sending out the Sobig worm to subscribers of its email newsletter for the long running Radio 4 serial The Archers.

The virus was sent to anybody who had signed up to be kept up to date with the goings on in Ambridge.

Subscribers to the newsletter service received an email as normal, but any who double clicked on the attachment launched the Sobig virus which caused havoc last month for web users.

Once activated the worm propagates itself by searching for an email address book and forwarding itself onto all the addresses it finds.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "Despite the BBC's stringent anti-virus protocols, a virus was erroneously sent out to the Archer's mailing list today. Immediately we knew this happened, an email was sent out those on the list apologising for the error and offering advice on deleting the virus. An internal investigation is currently taking place to ensure a similar incident does not happen in the future."

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant, at Sophos, said: "The Sobig worm first appeared in mid January. It has had quite a big impact since then, indeed it was the fourth most prevalent virus during January. Most anti-virus vendors released protection against the Sobig worm as soon as it was detected, so Archers fans who have recently updated their anti-virus software would have avoided infection."