An Internet worm that turns computers into spam machines has infected 30 percent of all e-mail users in China, the country's top Web security firm said on Friday.

More than 20 million users opened and passed along the Sobig virus called the fastest spreading Web worm ever to domestic and regional networks, Hao Ting, spokeswoman for Beijing Rising Technology Shareholding Co Ltd, told Reuters.

"We haven't seen anything spread so fast," she said by telephone. "It could get worse because there's very limited awareness of viruses and preventive measures."

Hao said the 30 percent figure was based on a study of the firm's one million regular customers and queries at its hotline.

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