DATE=5/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COMPUTER VIRUS IMPACT (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262046 (CQ)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=SAN FRANCISCO
CONTENT=
Internet=no
Voiced At:

INTRO:  The spread of computer viruses this week has 
forced many of the world's largest corporations and 
governments to shut down their computer systems 
temporarily.  The economic toll is mounting quickly, 
and according to some estimates could reach 10-billion 
dollars within a few days.  Max Ruston reports from San 
Francisco.


TEXT:  The latest computer virus attack began with the 
spread of e-mail messages labeled "I love you."  It has 
since mutated into a variety of different e-mail 
messages, some with the title "Joke," others called 
"Happy Mother's Day."  Security experts say the virus 
is easily copied, raising the possibility that it will 
continue to circulate for weeks under hundreds of 
different names.

The infected e-mail messages are accompanied by 
attached programs that, when launched, destroy certain 
files and send duplicate messages to other computer 
users.  Richard Jacobs is president of the computer 
anti-virus developer Sophos:

            /// Jacobs Act ///

      The biggest problem it is causing is denial of 
      service of e-mail.  People having to shut down 
      their e-mail systems either because they are 
      overloaded or to keep the situation under control 
      while they clear up.

            /// End Act ///

To some people, that may not sound like a major 
problem.  But when it is repeated by millions of 
computer users in thousands upon thousands of companies 
worldwide, the impact is devastating.

California-based Computer Economics is a research firm 
specializing in the impact of computer viruses.  One 
the company's analysts, Samir Bhavnani, says the latest 
virus, now nicknamed "the love bug," caused more than 
two-billion dollars in damages during its first day of 
circulation.  He says that figure will rise steadily 
over the coming week.

            /// Bhavnani Act ///

      The one-week impact of this virus will be 
      approximately 10-billion dollars.  We calculate 
      that number based upon the total number of 
      recipients of this e-mail.  To date, 
      approximately 45-million people have received 
      this e-mail.  And we estimate that about half of 
      these people experienced significant business 
      delay, and the median economic impact, which we 
      feel to be pretty conservative, is estimated to 
      be 100-dollars per user.

            /// End Act ///

According to some estimates, the virus spread to about 
70 percent of U-S companies in its first 10 hours.  
Some of the largest corporations in the United States, 
including Ford, General Motors and Microsoft, were 
forced to shut down their e-mail systems temporarily to 
fight the virus.  It also led to shut-downs or delays 
in the computer systems at the Pentagon, the U-S Senate 
and other government institutions.

            /// Begin Opt ///

Richard Jacobs of Sophos:

            /// Jacobs Act ///

      I think by most measures the "love bug" virus is 
      the most widespread, and therefore most serious 
      virus that we have ever seen.

            /// End Act ///

            /// End Opt ///

Mr. Jacobs says the "love bug" is already serving as a 
reminder of the importance of computer security 
measures.  The rapid growth of the technology industry 
and the desire for profits led some companies to spend 
less than they should have on security, and that is 
expected to change.

But computer security experts say the most effective 
way to fight the spread of such viruses is to better 
train end-users in the dangers of unsolicited e-mail.  
They say that just as young people have traditionally 
been taught not to talk with strangers, computer users 
around the world must learn to be careful not to open 
e-mail messages or attachments that come from 
unfamiliar people or places.   (Signed)

NEB/MPR/JP




05-May-2000 17:49 PM EDT (05-May-2000 2149 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.