Ananova:

Dutch police have arrested a computer hacker who claims he wrote the Anna Kournikova computer virus.

The 20-year-old from Friesland turned himself in and was arrested.

He was detained by Amsterdam police on suspicion of damaging computer programs and property.

His identity has been withheld under normal Dutch privacy laws.

The man says he posted a claim of responsibility on a Dutch website under the user name OnTheFly, saying the virus was released as a warning to internet users about lax security.

The message sender wrote: "I never wanted to harm the people (who) opened the attachment. But after all: it's their own fault they got infected."

"OnTheFly" then encouraged victims to update their anti-virus software.

The virus, which carried the signature "OnTheFly," was traced by the Excite(at)Home computer network to one of its subscribers in Holland.

The virus arrives as an e-mail attachment named "AnnaKournikova.Jpg.Vbs" and carries the message "Hi: Check This!" It promises to deliver a picture of the teenage tennis star, but does not actually contain a photo.

When the user clicks on the attachment, the virus is released, worming its way into address books and sending itself to everyone on the list, clogging e-mail servers.

The virus spread rapidly around the world on Monday, slowing down e-mail systems and forcing some companies to shut down e-mail altogether. Security experts have said it does not permanently damage computers.