De Wit said shortly after releasing the e-mail worm that he did so to test a claim that e-mail users had learned nothing from the Love Bug virus of last May. The worm, a form of virus that self-replicates, without actually altering files, threatened overload systems in the sending of bulk e-mails. The worm was carried in an e-mail attachment purporting to be a picture of tennis star Anna Kournikova. The virus was only triggered by opening the attachment.
De Wit is charged with spreading data through a computer network with the intent to cause damage. The maximum sentence in Holland is four years and a fine of up to 100,000 guilders (around £28,000).