But now two leading American computer researchers are challenging that policy.

The agency's work has won it numerous admirers, even among computer researchers not normally comfortable working for the Pentagon.

Many computer researchers angrily contend that, even if no harm was intended, the person who introduced the program should not have attempted such an effort.

Opinions about whether the program was a success or not vary widely among the experts involved in it and outside computer researchers.

A number of computer researchers say there is truth to such charges.

A number of computer researchers and industry analysts cautioned, however, that the performance comes at a price.

The latest focus of concern is a program known among computer researchers as a worm.

Yet it retains a fascination for computer researchers who see potential breakthroughs.

The result, computer researchers said, was a highly personalized electronic newspaper.

A number of these programs have been written, computer researchers said.