(Capitol Hill-AP) -- Lawmakers say the "ILOVEYOU" virus sends a wakeup call about the need for tougher laws to fight cybercriminals.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch says the impact of the virus was "quite widespread" today on Capitol Hill. He says "an awful lot" of computer systems had to be shut down.

Hatch says there could be real problems if terrorists are able to shut down government computers that need to be running for the U-S to protect itself.

Hatch and Senator Charles Schumer says the increasingly computer-dependent society means criminals overseas can easily access computer systems in the U-S.

Schumer says the virus forced his office to shut down its e-mail system.

The virus today spread quickly around the world, in the form of e-mails with the heading, "ILOVEYOU." When the attached file is run, it spreads itself to other computers.

(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

APTV-05-04-00 1437MDT