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The computer virus that spread via e-mail this week caused pockets of damage from the U.S. to Australia, but widespread infection seems to have been prevented, computer security experts said. The FBI said it’s hunting for the author of Worm.Explore.Zip, which deleted files on computers at several major companies. The agency issued a warning on its Web site for computer users to exercise caution when reading their e-mail and to alert system administrators to any unusual e-mail messages.

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Chiron Corp. named Paul J. Hastings president of its drug business, hiring him away from struggling drug developer LXR Biotechnology Inc. Hastings, 39, will replace Magnus Lundberg, who left the biotechnology company in March to become president of the Sweden-based diagnostics business of drug maker Pharmacia & Upjohn. Hastings most recently was chief executive and president of Richmond, Calif.-based LXR, which has been cutting staff and operations and is working with U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray to identify “strategic alternatives.” Chiron shares fell 6 cents to close at $19.06 on Nasdaq. The appointment of Hastings was announced after the close of trading.

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