Henipaviruses are among the deadliest known viruses and have no effective treatments. They include Hendra, lethal to humans and horses, and the Nipah virus, a serious threat in parts of Asia. Researchers have now discovered that Henipaviruses hijack a mechanism used by cells to counter DNA damage and prevent harmful mutations (important in diseases like cancer). This finding adds insight into how viruses behave, and could lead to new targets for antivirals to treat them.