Warning, this may contain a virus

For anyone who has ever opened an email only to unleash a computer virus, you are not alone in Luxembourg.

According to a study by Luxembourg-based internet security firm Symantec, computer users in the Grand Duchy are the second most likely in the world to receive malicious emails, with one in every 85 emails (1.2%) containing a virus of some kind.

Only Sweden experienced a higher rate with one in every 53 emails blocked in 2010 because of malicious content.

Symantec also revealed that internet users were most likely to face email-borne threats in the summer time. Communications and media minister François Biltgen concluded that this was because tourists tended to access email and e-banking from less secure servers in places like internet cafés, leaving their accounts exposed to viruses.

Responding to a parliamentary question concerning the security of ICT services in Luxembourg, Mr Biltgen jumped to defend the network, saying that the Symantec study concerned only a small proportion of residents (just 2.5%). Furthermore, he said that it was not clear how the security firm had identified whether the users were located in Luxembourg.

Other security firms blocking virus mails in Luxembourg suggested the proportion of malicious mails was lower. CTIE blocked just .05% of mails meanwhile RESTENA blocked .04% of emails.

Minister Biltgen underlined the importance of internet security in Luxembourg. He said: “Communication networks form the fundamental infrastructure for a number of sectors and services in Luxembourg and any weaknesses in these networks would cause serious damage to our population and economy.”

The minister added that the government was seeing growing numbers of attacks to its internet security systems. In a bid to strengthen online defences, last July the government announced the creation of a Cyber Security Board and a Computer Emergency Response Team.