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
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