A method of preventing the infection of a computer network 1 by a computer
virus, where that virus can be spread by e-mail traffic. The method
comprises installing at an e-mail gateway 7 of the network an anti-virus
application 12, which application scans at least incoming e-mail traffic
for known viruses. In the event that a new virus is detected by the
provider of the anti-virus application 12, a notification of this event
is sent from the provider to the anti-virus-application 12. At the
anti-virus application 12, receipt of said notification results in the
diversion of incoming e-mails or their attachments to a buffer 13 for
safe storage.
