Dismay as Love Bug hacker goes free

Security experts greeted with dismay a decision by authorities in the Philippines to drop procedures against the student suspected of releasing the Love Bug virus.

State prosecutors dropped charges against 24-year-old Onel de Guzman after ruling there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution under Phillipine law.

"It is galling that the person responsible for the greatest virus outbreak in history, causing millions of dollars worth of damage worldwide, looks unlikely to be punished," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consult for Sophos Anti-Virus.