Bank attacked by computer virus

Switzerland's biggest bank said its customers have been targeted by a computer virus for the second time in over a month.

UBS AG said the virus is a variant of the original Love Letter virus that circulated in May and replicates itself using Microsoft's Outlook e-mail programme.

The latest attack was again aimed at online banking software known as UBS Pin. The bank said it was unclear who was responsible, but said there had been little damage.

The virus is carried in an attachment to an e-mail message with the subject header "Funny Story" or "When did you die?", but otherwise carries no text, UBS said.

It is spread as soon as the attachment is opened.

"In the light of these repeated attacks, UBS is recommending that the UBS Pin no longer be used," it said in a statement.

"Accordingly, UBS has also initiated criminal proceedings against the unknown perpetrator," it added. It noted that "at no time has a UBS Pin customer suffered any harm".

It called on any customers who opened the attachment to cancel their e-banking authorisation by typing in the wrong password three times and to contact a bank hotline.

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 20, 2000