The attachments, which contained a virus similar to the Love Bug virus which attacked computer systems last month, allowed hackers to access customer information by means of a connection they created with the sender’s computer.
Although AOL is maintaining that only a limited number of client accounts were made available to the hackers, it has refused to comment on the exact figures involved. However, it has stated that the attack was limited to customer accounts held by AOL and that it has posed no risk of disclosure of information held on other ISPs. Moreover, AOL has emphasised that the hackers did not manage to access their client database which contains information on its 23 million members.
AOL is presently carrying out further investigations into the matter and its spokesman, Mr Rich D’Amato, stated that AOL “will turn over what we learn to law enforcement agencies” and that the company “will take any and all opportunities to prosecute these hackers”.