Netherlands suspect emerges in Anna e-mail virus
An Internet account in the Netherlands has emerged as the possible source of the Anna Kournikova computer virus that clogged e-mail service this week.
‘‘OnTheFly’’ posted a claim of responsibility on a Dutch web site, saying the virus was released as a warning to Internet users lax about security.
‘‘I never wanted to harm the people (who) opened the attachment,’’ the person wrote. ‘‘But after all: it’s their own fault they got infected.’’
‘‘OnTheFly’’ then encouraged victims to update their anti-virus software.
The virus, which carried the signature ‘‘OnTheFly,’’ was traced by the Excite(at)Home computer network to one of its subscribers in the Netherlands. The network said it was trying to find out if the account holder wrote the virus or if ‘OnTheFly’’ merely used the account to spread the virus.
‘‘We’re looking at the situation and determining what action to take,’’ said Alison Bowman, a company spokeswoman.
Mikko Hypponen, manager of anti-virus research at F-Secure Corporation in Espoo, Finland, said he believed the message was authentic, but finding the person could prove difficult. He also said the Netherlands did not appear to have any law outlawing Internet virus crimes.
Dutch officials said no investigation was planned.
‘‘We have no indication that it was started here,’’ said Wim de Bruijn, spokesman for the National Public Prosecutors office. ‘‘If any indications arise pointing to the Netherlands, then we will look into them.’’
The virus arrives as an e-mail attachment named ‘‘AnnaKournikova.Jpg.Vbs’’ and carries the message ‘‘Hi: Check This!’’ It promises to deliver a picture of the teenage tennis star, but does not actually contain a photo.
When the user clicks on the attachment, the virus is released, worming its way into address books and sending itself to everyone on the list, clogging e-mail servers.
The virus spread rapidly on Monday, slowing down e-mail systems and forcing some companies to shut down e-mail altogether. Security experts have said it does not permanently damage computers.
The outbreak was largely contained by Tuesday. The virus failed to infect as many computers in Asia as it did in Europe and the United States.
Australia was hit hardest, with an estimated 100,000 computers affected. However, other governments in Asia reported little or no impact.
Security experts said the virus attack was the largest since the ‘‘I Love You’’ virus. The Love Bug virus, released on May 4 in the Philippines, overwhelmed e-mail systems worldwide and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage.
