The FBI and other law enforcement groups report that they have logged more than 30,000 threats from computer hackers and virus writers who are plotting the release of new viruses to herald the transition to Y2K.

Despite the looming virus attacks, a related Gartner Group survey of 14,000 people concludes that public anxiety is way ahead of the actual Y2K threat. According to the study, 67 percent of all Americans say they plan to buy seven to 18 days of worth of food and other supplies within three days of Jan. 1.

Gartner Group researchers say they expect actual computer problems to be minor, for the most part, with many Y2K problems detected in November and December of this year as date-forward transactions begin to uncover gaps in system protections.

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