The Love Bug
First Melissa, now the Love Bug, and God only knows what's next [TECHNOLOGY, May 15]. It's high time the government did something to stop the spread of computer violence! All computer users should be registered with the Federal Government, and there should be a mandatory one-week waiting period for computer sales nationwide. If Congress does not have the will to act on this, the Federal and state governments should file lawsuits against computer manufacturers to recoup the damages caused by these viruses. We must stop the threat posed by easy access to computers. ANDREW L. LEVY Los Angeles
While we note the dangerous fragility of our hasty creations, we race blindly ahead. Too bad our technological hubris didn't sink with the Titanic. PATRICK DUBOIS London, Canada
The medium may be new, but human nature hasn't changed: whatever firewalls and antidotes the virus hunters come up with, virus writers will always find a way around them. As veteran hacker Emmanuel Goldstein put it, "If your system can be knocked out, assume it will be." You journalists need to read a little more carefully. He said if it "can" be knocked out. It is feasible to engineer systems that are exceedingly difficult to knock out without incurring significant costs. The Love Bug exploits a system that was designed to encourage promiscuous behavior. Windows is a code-running slut, a code Casanova. JOHN KAWAKAMI Los Angeles
Cyberhackers, like the creators of the Love Bug virus, have emerged as the No. 1 threat to world security. Whether driven by greed, jealousy, pleasure or the intellectual challenge, they--no matter where they strike from--have the means to wreak havoc on even the most secure computer systems in the world. What the world needs is tough laws to combat cybercrime and an international task force to monitor and apprehend cyberhackers. Computer systems' security should also be tightened so that cyberhackers won't succeed. JIM VICTA HIPOLITO Kawit, the Philippines
Upon hearing about the love bug virus, I said to myself, "What a jerk that hacker must be." But to my surprise, my perspective changed when I learned that the creators of the virus were Filipino--it gave many Filipinos like me a morale boost. Contrary to the West's view of the Philippines as "left behind" when it comes to technology, these Filipino hackers turned the tables in a radical way and taught the cyberworld a lesson: expect more bugs to come. JOSE ANTONIO D. GONCERO JR. Fairview, the Philippines
Why on earth do you encourage these ego-ridden virus hackers by giving them your cover? You have played right into their hands. DANIEL A. JENKINS Louisville, Ky.
There was a way to avoid the bug: by using a computer running a Linux or Apple operating system. PATRICK GUINNESS Naas, Ireland
Punishment for Bill
Here's a good way to punish Bill Gates without resorting to the breakup of his baby [NATION, May 8]. Put him in front of a computer and have him put a 57-page document in the proper format using Microsoft Word. That'll teach him. PHYLLIS HIRSHORN New York City
Microsoft Alternatives