Security news
Security news21 August 2000
Love Bug suspect: charges dropped
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| Onel de Guzman is suspected of being the author of the Love Bug worm |
All charges against Onel de Guzman, the Filipino student suspected of having released the VBS/LoveLetter virus in May, have been dropped.
The Department of Justice in Manila have reportedly said that the charges filed by investigators either did not apply to the case, or there was insufficient evidence to support them.
Former student of AMA Computer College Onel de Guzman had previously admitted to the press that he may have released the virus (also known as The Love Bug) by accident. However, he refused to say whether he had written it.
Laws designed to combat computer misuse were only introduced in June 2000 by the Philippines authorities as a result of the Love Bug incident. These laws cannot be backdated.
"It is beginning to sound as though no-one will ever be convicted for the biggest virus outbreak in history," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos Anti-Virus. "Millions of innocent computer users were hit around the world after opening what appeared to be a love letter." See also:
