Chen Ing Hau

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This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen.

Chen Ing Hau (陳盈豪 pinyin: Chén Yíngháo, born April 26, 1975), from Taiwan, is the author of the CIH virus (also known as Chernobyl) which infected millions of computers worldwide in 1999.^[1]

Chen released CIH while attending Tatung University in Taipei. When he created the virus, he received little more than a demerit^{[citation needed]} from the university. He became nervous after learning that the virus had become prevalent. Some classmates advised him not to admit to creating the virus, but he believed that security experts could track him down given enough time. Prior to graduation, he wrote an apology on the internet, in particular to numerous users in China who were affected.^[2] He began serving in the military due to conscription. In 1999, military authorities asked him to detail the workings of the virus in order to assist the efforts to contain its damage, to which he cooperated.^[2]^[3] He was eventually allowed to be discharged from the military after he was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, believed to be a result of efforts to prosecute him.^[1] Due to the constitution of Taiwan at the time, no law prohibited his actions, and he was never prosecuted for the CIH virus.^[1] Officials at the criminal investigation bureau stated that he was the reason for the country's 2003 criminal law amendment regarding computer crime.^[1] In September 2000, Chen was arrested by Taiwanese authorities after a Taiwanese student filed a complaint against him for computer damages in connection with the CIH virus.^[3] As of 2005 the case is pending.^{[citation needed]}