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DATE=5/19/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=NEW VIRUS (L) NUMBER=2-262571 BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=WASHINGTON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Computer experts report still another electronic virus attacking computers around the world. This rogue computer program is said to be more destructive than the recent "Love Bug" virus, but seems to be spreading more slowly. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from Washington. TEXT: U-S Government computer security experts say the latest virus sends an electronic, or e-mail message with an attached file. The attachment contains a program that, once opened, takes over the victim's e-mail address book, makes hundreds of copies of itself and then sends them to everyone in the address book. It also erases almost all of the data and programs on the victims' computer /// BEGIN OPT /// These destructive computer programs are called "viruses" because their actions resemble the attacks made by real viruses on cells in humans or animals. Real viruses hijack cells and force them to make copies of virus instead of making copies of themselves. /// END OPT /// U-S Attorney General Janet Reno says the "new-love- dot-v-b-s" virus is particularly nasty because it automatically changes its name every time it attacks. /// RENO ACT /// This new version can change the subject line and the program code every time it is re- transmitted. This makes the virus more difficult for users and anti-virus programs to detect. The "worm" (the destructive part of the computer virus) is transmitted when a user opens an e-mail attachment. /// END ACT /// Attorney General Reno says the F-B-I (Federal Bureau of Investigation) is searching for the person who wrote the destructive computer program and hopes to make an arrest. In the meantime, she says users can protect themselves by looking carefully at e-mail -- even messages that appear to be from friends and colleagues. //// RENO ACT /// If you receive an e-mail with a "dot v-b-s" file extension, do not open it. Even if it comes from a trusted source. Delete the e-mail from your system. /// END ACT /// The new virus seems to be spreading via the Microsoft Corporation's Outlook software program. The head of the F-B-I's computer crimes unit, Michael Vatis, says this virus seems to have "evolved" from the recent "Love-bug" virus that recently caused several billion dollars in damage to computers around the world. He says computer programmers bent on mischief -- hackers in computer parlance -- took the Love-bug's relatively simple codes and made them more destructive and harder to detect. He says various kinds of computer-assisted crime are on the rise and there are about 50-thousand computer viruses already "out in the wild" with 20 or 30 new ones appearing daily. Mr. Vatis says fortunately, the vast majority of such rogue programs are unable to cause major problems. /// REST OPT /// Computer users can get more information on computer viruses by contacting http://www-dot-f-b-i-dot-gov and http://www-dot-cert-org. (Signed) NEB/JR/JP 19-May-2000 15:08 PM EDT (19-May-2000 1908 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .