DATE=5/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES / COMPUTER VIRUS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262182
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=MANILA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

/// Re-issuing to correct CR number and to 
clarify, in intro, that student named by college 
has not been designated as a suspect in the love-
bug case. ///

INTRO:  A computer college in the Philippines (on 
Wednesday) has identified a student who wrote a 
software program very similar to the "I love you" 
computer virus, but investigators have  not  
named the student as a suspect.  Amy Bickers 
reports from Manila on the latest developments in 
the case of the love bug virus.  

TEXT:  While Philippine officials continue to 
investigate leads and analyze computer codes, 
administrators at the A-M-A computer college in 
Manila released the name of a student -- Onel A. 
de Guzman - and identified him as the writer of a 
recent report on how to steal passwords from the 
Internet.

The officials say the report and the "Love Bug" 
virus share similar characteristics.  The student 
left school after his report was rejected by 
teachers, who said it amounted to burglary.

Mr. De Guzman lives in the same apartment as 
Reonel Ramones, a bank employee who was arrested 
on Monday on suspicion of involvement with the 
virus.  He was later released because of a lack 
of evidence.  His girlfriend is also Mr. De 
Guzman's sister, and she is wanted for 
questioning by police.  

Philippine investigators said Wednesday that the 
computer virus - the fastest moving in history --
- could have started as a prank by hackers who 
did not foresee the worldwide damage it would 
cause. 

Officials say they may have intended to use it to 
steal passwords from local Internet subscribers 
and use them to gain free surfing time. 
 
The virus was originally sent under the subject 
heading "I LOVE YOU," with an accompanying 
attachment, from two Philippine e-mail addresses. 
Now there are a number of variations, and some 
are still circulating. 

Once opened, it is capable of sending a copy of 
the virus to everyone in the user's address book 
and destroying files, including pictures and 
graphics. 

Computers run by the U-S State Department, 
Britain's House of Commons, and numerous 
corporations have been affected, with damage 
estimated as high as 10 billion dollars

Investigating the so-called "Love Bug" case has 
been difficult for the Philippine police, who 
lack high-tech equipment, experience, and laws to 
deal with cyber-crime. 

/// REST OPT ///

The high-profile case has thrust the Philippines 
in the spotlight just as its coping with an 
international hostage crisis involving Islamic 
militants who are holding mainly foreign hostages 
on a remote island. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/AB/JO/KL




10-May-2000 08:41 AM EDT (10-May-2000 1241 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.