E-card virus warning for Christmas By Lyndsey Steven CNN Thursday, December 19, 2002 Posted: 9:25 AM EST (1425 GMT) "A new virus called Yaha was identified by London-based watchdog Message Labs on December 13. Meanwhile new versions of the existing Trojan, Bride B and Happy 99 viruses are also spreading in the Christmas boom. While many e-card sites are legitimate and fun, some online Christmas cards are used as smoke screens, says Alex Shipp of Message Labs. "First they will remove your anti-virus program so that you do not know they are there, then they do all sorts of nasty things like mailing out your address book so that your friends will be affected." As well as spreading irritating e-mail, viruses can be more menacing, opening up your PC to hackers. This can expose your credit card details, financial records and personal information. They can delete files, track every Web site you visit and even go shopping online without you knowing." I am not opening any e-mail cards just to be on the safe side. Merry Christmas! Alene