US business hit hardest by Love Bug

The insidious Love Bug, which affected at least 600,000 computers in the US causing an estimated $2.5bn in damage, did the most harm in workplaces rather than individual homes, according to the latest research.

The study, conducted by Angus Reid Group and Symantec, found that about 26 per cent of those with internet access at work reported that their companies were exposed to the virus, with about 47 per cent of that group reporting damage to computer systems as a result.

A further nine per cent said that while damage was controlled, systems were shut down to eliminate the bug's potential for destruction, inevitably affecting productivity. Nearly half of all workplaces with internet access "got sick" from the ILOVEYOU email, the study said.

Of those Americans with internet access at home, however, only about three per cent were affected by the virus.

Edward Morawski, senior analyst at Angus Reid, said that 40 per cent of people who considered themselves expert or very skilled with computers and the internet, considered viruses to be a serious threat. "It's a prevalent view and it's probably a pretty hard-held one."

He also said that Americans are split as to the long-term consequences of the ILOVEYOU virus and others like it.

"Approximately half agree that computer viruses pose a serious threat to the future growth and use of the internet, while the other half feel that computer viruses are bound to happen on occasion, but pose no long-term threat to the internet," he said.

Half of those surveyed were also confident that large corporations, governments and the computer industry itself can limit the damage caused by computer hackers. The poll found that 53 per cent of respondents were confident in the computer industry's ability to control damage, while 44 per cent revealed a lack of confidence.

Respondents had the lowest confidence in the government, with 43 per cent confident in it's ability to control damage, and 55 per cent saying they were not.