The recent spate of serious internet security threats, such as the Love Bug virus, is expected to dominate this week's G8 cybercrime conference in Paris.

Law officials and government representatives from the G8 (Group of Eight) industrial nations are meeting over the next three days to discuss issues raised by online crime.

The conference will discuss ways to prevent incidents such as the distributed denial of service (Ddos) attacks which brought several major websites to their knees back in February, and the recent Love Bug virus, and to improve ways in which the perpetrators of these attacks are brought to justice.

Industry executives have urged the law officials, judges and government representatives attending the conference to tackle the issue of trans-national legislation, and to make recommendations on technical advice in the areas of vulnerability and insurance.

Aled Miles, UK and Ireland regional director at antivirus company Symantec, said he also hoped the conference would make recommendations on the methodology for law enforcement agencies tracking and tracing cybercrime.

"My only concern is that they tend to move in government time not internet time," he said.

"It's been a slow process in the past, but now that we've had significant Ddos [attacks] plus the Love Bug, awareness has been raised exponentially as a consequence," he added.

Miles said that since G8 was formed in 1997, the group has made many improvements in the way that cybercrime is tackled.

"In 1999, the group set a 10-point action plan which has enabled law enforcement agencies to work far more tightly together, and it has now started to include technology companies as expert witnesses," he said.

"We have seen major strides being made. In fact, the speed at which the Filipino [Love Bug] case is moving shows we are seeing a recognition as to the importance of jurisdiction."

"However, more measures need to be taken to restore business confidence in e-trading which has taken a dent in the last few months," he said.