[00:03.16]Computer viruses are electronic programs that destroy information on a computer or cause the computer to stop working.
[00:13.37]Computer experts say the "I Love You" virus is one of the most dangerous they have ever seen.
[00:21.29]It began spreading May Fourth and quickly attacked computers in more than twenty countries.
[00:27.90]The experts say it may have caused as much as 10,000,000,000 dollars in destroyed information
[00:36.39]and lost computer work time.
[00:39.24]The virus got in each computer as electronic mail that appeared to be sent from a friend.
[00:46.65]Its title was "I Love You."
[00:49.68]When the computer user opened the message, the virus did several things.
[00:56.11]First, it found the computer's address book and immediately mailed copies of itself to each computer address listed.
[01:05.88]It destroyed electronic pictures kept in the computer's memory.
[01:10.61]It also searched for secret words used to protect computer information and attempted to steal them.
[01:19.46]The "I Love You" Virus quickly spread through computers used in governments and private businesses.
[01:28.37]Electronic address books in these computers quickly sent copies of the virus to other government computer systems.
[01:37.18]Business computers sent copies of the virus to other business computers.
[01:43.65]Within days the "I Love You" virus had spread from computer to computer around the world.
[01:52.12]Experts in computer crime are still investigating the incident.
[01:58.31]They have followed electronic evidence to The Philippines where there are no laws against this kind of Computer activity.
[02:07.87]It is a crime in many countries, but not in The Philippines.
[02:12.94]International legal experts say new laws are needed that ban computer programs like the "I Love You" virus.
[02:23.39]They say people who invent and spread harmful programs must be punished.
[02:30.49]Computer experts say as many as 50,000 computer viruses may now exist.
[02:38.64]These viruses spread very quickly on the Internet computer network.
[02:43.84]Experts warn all computer users to be careful about what electronic mail they open, |