A development across the Tasman could have implications in this country given the closeness of our relationship with Australia and the fact the country remains New Zealand's largest export market.
A new industry code to control Australia's plague of contaminated PCs could mean computers infected with viruses could be "expelled" from the internet.
The Australian newspaper reported the Internet Industry Association - whose members include major internet service providers Optus, Telstra, Vodafone, AAPT, Virgin and Hutchison 3G, as well as industry giants Facebook, Google and Microsoft - is preparing a voluntary industry code to come into force this year.
The move follows industry intelligence that Australia now hosts the world's third-highest number of "zombie" computers - that is computers infected with malicious software that can attack other PCs, send spam, store child pornography or steal the user's identity.
A daft copy of the voluntary code says the service providers should identify affected computers and try to contact the users, by telephone or email.
It proposes service providers apply an "abuse" plan to slow down the speed of the customer's infected computer, or to change the customer's password so they are forced to call the help desk.
Another action could be to provide the customer with a timeframe in which to take remedial action and, if this is not adhered to, terminate service.
Those are fighting words and when you consider the membership of the Australian industry association, it does not take a major leap to see the implications for New Zealand.
Telstra, Vodafone and AAPT are represented in New Zealand through TelstraClear, Vodafone and Telecom, respectively.
Microsoft has a large presence in New Zealand, with offices in Auckland and Christchurch, and Facebook and Google have growing numbers of representatives.
If the industry code is adopted in Australia, voluntarily or not, it will not take much to shift it lock, stock and barrel across the Tasman Sea.
Australia accounts for 6.3% of the world's "new zombies", compared with 18% from the United States and 12.2% from China.
Chances are that if Australia has a high infection rate, then New Zealand must, on a comparative basis, be getting up there.
The best advice around is keep your virus protection up to date.
Mack-Line is trying Avast (www.avast.com [1]) on a netbook.
So far, it has been more than impressive.
It is free, friendly and fast.
A "voice"alerts you to updates.
It is worth a try.
Links:
[1] http://www.avast.com