Chinese Internet experts have warned netizens of a potential danger lurking between the stacks of romantic proposals.

The latest wave of online viruses are expected to arrive this Friday -- Valentine's Day.

The mischievous bugs, which have the potential to halt entire operating systems, carry nicknames such as "I Love You," "Valentine's Day" and "Romeo and Juliet." They are hidden in e-mails or their attachments, experts warned.

He Xu, a network engineer with the Beijing Jiangmin New Technology Co Ltd, a Beijing-based company famous for its anti-virus software, said the computer virus, Vbs.loveletter, popularly known as "love bug," has already caused some damage to careless e-mail recipients in the city.

Unsuspecting users that have reportedly opened such e-mails, or attachments titled Love-Letter-for-you.text.vbs, have had their entire computer network break down in most cases, said He.

Passing through the e-mail system of Microsoft Outlook, the virus can automatically copy itself and then distribute copies to all e-mail addresses listed in the victim's address book. Not only will the contagious bug slow down operating systems, the virus can also affect or destroy as many as 12 types of saved data.

Fortunately, previous attacks of the "love bug" have not caused considerable damage in China. Future damage can be prevented, if people are more careful when handling their e-mail, said He.

Besides, assaults from other e-mail-born computer viruses through networks are also expected. Both Vbs.valentine and Worm.Blebla have been reported active and destructive this week.

Therefore, said He, it is better for local computer users to upgrade their safeguarding software after their week-long Spring Festival break. But most importantly, added He, users should watch out for suspicious e-mails labeled with sweet words in the coming days.

China's cyber community has been mired in an arduous battle against Internet worms in the last few years as pests like the Red Code series, Sircam, Bluecode and Nimda have wreaked havoc on computer systems, causing cyber traffic jams and collapses and cutting into corporate bottom lines.

(China Daily February 11, 2003)