Security fears sparked by the recently identified W32/Myfip virus are unfounded, according to a security industry executive who claims the concern is nothing more than empty scaremongering by antivirus firms.

The malicious code, branded "the start of a worrying trend" this week by security and antivirus firm MessageLabs, purports to have been sent from eBay.com and uses a previously undocumented packer to make it harder for antivirus software systems to identify.

However, Nick Scales, chief executive of UK-based IT security firm Avecho, said: "When will the antivirus vendors stop scaremongering at every opportunity?"

Scales recommended that organisations should establish a "simple rule" at email gateways to block all unexpected code from unknown outsiders.

"There are other rules and technology to get rid of the really nasty viruses, but these attachment-based code viruses should simply just not be a problem to anyone anymore," he said.

He accused antivirus firms of "not protecting their customers" and of "promoting a climate of fear to help increase their revenues".