A Lookback At The 2000 “Love Virus”
Outbreak:
24 Years After
THE LOVE BUG — nobody saw it coming, nobody expected or even suspected because it was cleverly disguised as a text file with the title “love-letter-for-you.” So, who would have thought of the danger? Nobody, actually… hence the outbreak! It’s been 24 years since the infamous computer virus had spread throughout the world wide web affecting, infecting, and crashing the entire digital systems of the world.
The “love virus” was unleashed on May 4, 2000. It was simple, but devastatingly effective and highly contagious. Once infected, many of the user’s files would be overwritten with copies of the virus, so that whenever the victim tried to open the files, they’d reinfect their system. The virus also tried to steal people’s passwords. But the true genius lay in how it spread. Once infected, the victim’s computer would send an email to everyone in their Microsoft Outlook contacts book. The emails read: “kindly check the attached love letter coming from me,” and attached was a copy of the virus, disguised as a text file with the title “love-letter-for-you.”
This unfortunate “love story” started in the Philippines and was delivered with the subject line ILOVEYOU along with instructions to read the attached email. The virus was tracked to an email address registered to an apartment in Manila, which led to Onel de Guzman. He created the Love Bug virus, not thinking it would reach as many people as it did. In 2000, Guzman, 24, was a computer science student at the AMA Computer College. Within 24 hours of releasing the virus, it had spread across the world.
Due to the way this virus multiplies and spreads, it is categorized as a worm. It self-replicates, which means that it can send copies of itself through a network without any action from an actual person. The worm would then steal passwords and overwrite files, including both documents and photos stored on any device connected to the original affected computer. Meanwhile, it would also go into the Microsoft Outlook Windows contact list and send a copy of itself to that entire list, starting the cycle over again.
In April 2019, BBC News reporter Geoff White tracked down Onel De Guzman in Manila. White interviewed De Guzman for his book on cyber crime called Crime Dot Com. The reporter says he flew to the country and found De Guzman at a phone repair shop in a shopping mall in the Quiapo district. According to White, De Guzman admitted having created the “I Love You” virus while he was a computer science student, but he says he only did it so he could steal passwords and access the internet for free.
The efforts to recover data from affected systems and remove the infection cost as much as $10 billion, according to Winder. Government agencies, such as the Pentagon, CIA and the U.K. Parliament, were also affected and, as a consequence, all shut down their email. Information technology (IT) systems around the world were shut down from overload, due to computer
systems not being made to process this type of virus, or turned off in an effort to prevent spread of the infection.
The Love Bug had a highly publicized introduction to the world. As one of the first examples of malware, it changed the way people viewed and used both email and the internet. The deception of the email being from a loved one paired with it sending itself to people’s personal contact lists, hardened people. They now knew to be more apprehensive and less trusting of emails.
The Smithsonian Institute named the “I Love You” virus the 10th most destructive computer virus in history. As for De Guzman, although he was initially arrested by authorities, he was later released and all charges against him were dropped, primarily because there were no laws against writing malware at the time.
In June 2000, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 8792, or the E-Commerce Law. White says De Guzman, who was already 44 years old at that time, regrets creating the virus and doesn’t like the infamy it has brought him. “I’m a shy person,” he tells White. “I don’t want this.”
Cybersecurity impact
Microsoft has defined Cybersecurity as a set of processes, best practices, and technology solutions that help protect your critical systems and network from digital attacks. As data has proliferated and more people work and connect from anywhere, bad actors have responded by developing sophisticated methods for gaining access to your resources and stealing data, sabotaging your business, or extorting money.
Advance Solutions Inc (ASI) being one of the leading providers of technology solutions in the country since 1996 has always recognized the importance of cyber security. In fact, ASI conducted a tech update seminar in September 2023 aimed at addressing this current technology trend. In the seminar, ASI’s brand partners Microsoft, HP Philippines, Intel, and Aruba provided a comprehensive discussion on the subject matter of cyber security.
A 2022 report produced by HP Wolf Security in collaboration with Forensic Pathways – and alongside security experts in both industry and academia – has identified how cybercriminals are now operating on a professional footing with easy-to-launch malware and ransomware attacks being offered on a “Software as a Service” basis. As a result, even people with rudimentary IT skills are now able to launch cyberattacks at targets of their choosing.
A successful cybersecurity approach has multiple layers of protection spread across the computers, networks, programs, or data that one intends to keep safe. In an organization, the people, processes, and technology must all complement one another to create an effective defense from cyber attacks.
