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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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