Users of home PCs, or personal computers, are being urged to check their anti-virus software is fully up to date, on the busy run-up to Christmas.

The Manx government's Information Systems Division says the vast majority of emails received are harmless, but a small number can be malicious, and have the potential to do major damage.

There's also advice about a scam under which people on the Island have been receiving emails and phone calls from individuals claiming to represent Windows or Microsoft, and offering help with a virus problem they have identified.

Director of the division Allan Paterson says such approaches, by email or telephone, should always be ignored (play audio file):

A website called getsafeonline.org provides lots of good advice on making sure home computers are protected.

You can also visit snopes.com or hoax-slayer.com to check out the validity of the virus warnings which are often received in so called 'chainmail' emails.