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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Amid reports of a new computer virus capable of ravaging information systems and spread worldwide via the U.S. e-mail system, the FBI downplayed its earlier warnings of the virus' danger.
"It appears to be contained," said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) spokesman Rex Tomb, who had warned that the 'Janet Simons' virus was "extremely dangerous."
"But, you never know," Tomb added, in reference to what he said could be a "bad surprise" when businesses reopen after the Memorial Day holiday.
Tomb said the FBI had engaged its "usual protection procedure" to spare its computer systems against the new electronic infiltrator, which masquerades as a resume sent by a job applicant.
The subject line of the e-mail carrying the virus says: "Resume - Janet Simons." Those opening the e-mail's attachment risk having entire files on their computers deleted, computer experts warned. As with other recent computer viruses, the new invader spreads via Microsoft's Outlook program, which handles electronic mail, calendar and address book functions.
So far, the FBI reported that an unspecified number of corporate e-mail systems had been affected - and even shut down - by the new bug, which spreads by mailing itself to everyone in the recipient's address book.
A Cupertino, California-based Internet information service, Trend Micro, reported Saturday, however, that the 'Janet Simons' virus had hit eight "big accounts," which control about 20,000 computer terminals.
However, according to Tomb, "The world got up quite quickly," in terms of its reaction to the virus, as Internet companies wasted no time warning their clients about the danger of the latest electronic invader.
The Finland-based corporation F-Secure, which bills itself as one of the world's leading developers of anti-virus and encryption software, has already come up with a defensive program, which "detects and disinfects this virus," the company said in a statement.
"This is yet another attempt to use psychological means to trick people into opening an attachment," Mikko Hypponen, an F-Secure anti-virus research manager, said of the Janet Simons virus. "Almost every resume sent to a company would be opened sooner or later - why wouldn't this one?" Hypponen added.
Just three weeks ago, a message asking users to open an attachment called ILOVEYOU wreaked havoc on hundreds of thousands of computer in North America, Europe and Asia, destroying sound and picture files. The destructive "Love Bug," as it was dubbed, and its offshoots have caused more than $6-billion in damage, according to estimates.
Following the ILOVEYOU virus outbreak, some computer security experts criticized Microsoft for failing to provide better security for the Outlook program used to propagate the virus. The FBI said a patch would soon be issued by the anti-virus industry to make the Microsoft Outlook program more secure.
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