Brussels, 05/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Commission stated in a press release on Friday that the computer virus "I love you", which spread all over the world during Thursday, has not had a substantial effect on its working. One expert specified that the virus had been detected around 11h00 and, just one hour after, was neutralised by an anti-virus system made available by a private company. According to its estimations, less than 1% of the Commission computers were infected. It nonetheless issued a warning that the virus could continue to spread under a different name, such as, for example, "Joke". The Commission warned users to remain on their guard.
Commissioner Erkki Liikanen, responsible for Information Society policy, declared that the "love bug" is a "warning to us all that security must be given top priority if consumer and user confidence is to be maintained as we move into the information age". He recalled that the Commission is preparing a communication on "cyber crime", which will propose strengthened cooperation between the national authorities and the operators concerned. It will take part in the G8 on the Convention on High Tech Crime, in Paris from 15 to 17 May (see site: http: //http://www.g8parishightech.org ). In its press release, the Commission stressed that international cooperation and information exchange between professionals and users should be encouraged in order to avoid further damage.