We have become aware of a new malicious computer virus/worm, and wanted to let everyone know about some good practices to help keep your computer and RuneScape account safe. There's no need to panic, but there are some precautions you should take.

The reason we are mentioning this worm in particular is because we believe that one version of it may attempt to specifically steal RuneScape passwords by recording your key presses as you type, and sending them back to the worm owner.

The new worm is called Bubbles, but is also known as Ramex, Skipi and Pykspa. Bubbles can get on to a computer in two different ways. Either by being downloaded directly from a third party website, or by a user receiving and opening a file disguised as a web link in third party messaging programs.

The worm cannot be transmitted through playing RuneScape or using the RuneScape.com website.

The security of the RuneScape servers themselves is in no way affected by this, this worms affect users own computers, not our servers which are very well protected.

The best protection against malicious computer software is to stay vigilant and use an up to date anti-virus program.

For anyone who is not currently using an anti-virus program, we really recommend that you install one as soon as possible! In fact install one right now!

If you do have an anti-virus program installed but it is not up to date, please take the time to update it with the latest virus definitions now. Again don't delay!

Lastly, you should never accept files from unknown sources full stop. However pay extra special attention when using 3rd party messaging programs or email as it is very easy to accidentally download malicious software by following a link.

A forgotten and weakened altar has been unearthed north of the Observatory. With the ability to produce any type of rune, the altar holds undeniable power, but its discovery would be so much sweeter if the Zamorakian Magical Institute (ZMI) hadn't got there first.

The ZMI unearthed the Ourania Rune Altar near Scorpius's grave, but their attempts to repair it have gone a wee bit awry. Regardless of the altar's weakened state, the ZMI are guarding it fiercely to prevent any rival mages from stealing their source of runes.

This mysterious altar also seems to raise Runecrafting levels at exceptional rates - but at what cost? There seems to be something a mite unreliable about the runes the altar produces. They are all so very...random.

Whispers from the Zamorakians imply that more experienced runecrafters will receive better rewards from this chaotic altar, but there can be no predicting what it will produce next.

Will you dare risk the Zamorakian's wrath by runecrafting at the ZMI altar?

Summary

In other news...

Players entering the TzHaar city will no longer receive minor injuries when holding Karamja rum.

It is now impossible to set-up deadfall traps if a player doesn't have the required level. Previously, a player could set up a deadfall trap without the required levels, but were unable to bait it to attract kebbits.

We've fixed several NPC chat-heads that weren't working. These NPCs should now appear a bit more social and lively when you're chatting to them!

Players can no longer resume where they left off in the knight waves event, after the King's Ransom quest. If a player had teleported away part-way through a fight, the player could then come back and continue the challenge instead of restarting this fun event.

Ever get confused about the identity of those herbs nestling in the far corners of your bank? Ever wondered exactly what your unfinished potion contains? Well, never fear! We've spoken to the Herbalist of Nardah and put him to work, updating the Herblore skill.

The first changes are to unfinished potions. With this update you will no longer have to wonder what potion is within your vial. The Herbalist has examined them all carefully and labelled them up for you. He's also added a new naming convention to these potions - (unf) - which stands for 'unfinished', so you can tell their status at a glance.

The Herbalist also felt 'identifying' herbs was not the difficult part of Herblore - it's cleaning! So, your unidentified herbs have been replaced with 'grimy' herbs. You will now see grimy ranarrs, grimy marrentills and other mucky herbs. These require cleaning and a certain Herblore level to do so; the same Herblore level that was required to originally identify them. With no more identifying to be done, you will know exactly what herbs you are receiving from the very start.

Your efforts in herb Farming will also produce grimy herbs - giving you a small increase in Herblore experience as you clean them!

The Herbalist in Nardah is more than willing to clean up any grimy herbs for you - for a price of course. He has also, for no extra price, trawled through your herbs, identifying and sorting them into 'clean' and 'grimy' batches. Clean herbs are ready for use, whether in potions, in salamanders or anything else you could do with a herb.

We hope you'll now find that it's impossible to get scammed when you're buying herbs. We know that, in the past, some scammers have tried to trick honest players by playing on the fact that many people could not distinguish between unidentified herbs, so we've done this to make RuneScape more enjoyable for the honest majority of players.

This week's update brings the latest Achievement Diary - as chosen by you in the Guaranteed Content poll!

Discover a wide range of activities and tasks to perform throughout Varrock, taking you from the Barbarian Village right through to the limestone mine near the Rag and Bone Man; from the depths of the city's murky sewers to the highest point in the city!

Get ready to investigate dungeons and spiders' lairs; listen to stories from the elderly; discover Varrock's various shops and experience the very best that Varrock has to offer.

With a wide range of achievements for you to complete, you will have your work cut out if you wish to complete every last one of them. Those willing to put in the effort, however, will find themselves well rewarded with a series of useful items for completing the easy, medium and hard tasks.

Your skills will be pushed to their very limit if you wish to become a true master explorer of Varrock!

Summary

Also this week, we find an unlikely pairing of graphical improvements...

From Pirates' Cove in the north-west to Mos Le'Harmless in the south-east, pirates everywhere are rejoicing as they unpack shipments of stunning new clothes and fashion accessories. Decked out in their new jackets, tricorns hats, hooks, peg-legs and caps, the pirates of RuneScape have never looked more... um... piratey. So, the next time you're fighting for your life against one of these fearsome swashbuckling seafarers, take a moment to admire their outfits.

The children of RuneScape have also been given a bit of a makeover. Check out the slouch of Wilough and Shilop in Varrock, the shifty eyes of the Urchin in Pollnivneach, or maybe the anaemic pallor of Smiddi Ryak as she fights for her life on her Trek to Paterdomus. No matter whether they have been naughty or nice, the little scamps have all received a fresh new look.

In The Eyes of Glouphrie quest, you helped clear the Gnome Stronghold of some nasty 'watcher' creatures; cuddly spies sent by Glouphrie to keep an eye on gnome doings. While managing these menaces, you dealt with a lot of gnome history and probably received your reward thinking "Where did Glouphrie go?" and "What did he do?"

In The Path of Glouphrie quest, the story passes from the Gnome Stronghold to the second main gnomish settlement - the Tree Gnome Village. While investigating the strange goings-on you will reacquaint yourself with some old friends, solve some dastardly puzzles, seek the end of the world (which is far from gnome), slay strange creatures, stray far into gnome-man's land, talk to spirit trees, and find out even more about gnome society, customs and history.

Questions need answering: How do gnomes choose their kings? Why is the gnomish empire split in half? Will you continue your quest to find the lost city of Arposandra and delve deeper into the dark deeds of Glouphrie the Untrusted? Are there going to be more of those creepy, furry watchers? The answers could well be found along the Path of Glouphrie: only those brave and inquisitive enough should travel it...

Summary

In other news...

The higher level monsters of the god wars dungeon will now drop hard treasure trail clues rather than medium-level clues.

Rings of life will no longer have any effect inside player-owned houses. It's safe to die inside a POH, so people didn't really appreciate having their rings of life teleport them out of the house when their Hitpoints were low!

The Agility shortcut under the wall behind Varrock Palace had become invisible in low detail mode. It's been put back now.

A small change has been made to single-way combat in the Wilderness. Player-vs-player combat now takes precedence over monster fighting, meaning that anyone in battle with a creature can still be attacked by another player. Before, a player could fight another player, run away, enter combat with a creature, and stop the other player from attacking them. All other single-way combat rules still apply, with only one player able to attack you at a time, and only one creature able to attack at any time.