In the late 1980s, when computers were a rarity, a peculiar phenomenon began to surface on the Philippine technological landscape – the emergence of the first computer virus.
Computer viruses are arguably the most familiar type of malware to the general public. From the days when it started with the proliferation of floppy disks, a considerable amount of coding expertise, and a notoriously mischievous intent, computer viruses have evolved to become the most damaging type of malware.
As the founders of antivirus software companies such as Kaspersky Lab and Symantec recount their first encounters with viruses, the thrill of threat hunting was evident. The problem of malicious code appeared to be an exciting challenge for programmers around the world.
The case of VirMan, the Philippines’ first computer virus, is no different than that. VirMan, the brainchild of a programming enthusiast named Onel de Guzman, would eventually become the most significant cybersecurity incident in Philippine history.
On May 5, 2000, the virus began to infect an estimated one million computers worldwide. The worm spread remarkably swiftly and was rapidly accepted as a plague. What distinguished it from the vast majority of other viruses at the time was the extent of its harm. It did not tamper with the data or delete files. Instead, it focused on stealing passwords and sending itself to the email contacts of an infected user.
In less than 24 hours, it forced email servers and internet service providers around the world to freeze, disabling a significant portion of the internet. VirMan did not only disrupt the Philippines; it affected the world’s cyber ecosystem.
The aftermath of the virus’s havoc was devastating. Businesses faced losses of millions of dollars, and a range of techie experts, national telecommunications, and computer security teams worked twenty-four hours a day to combat the virus, which ultimately led to the conclusion that there was no cure.
However, the other side of the story received less praise, which is how a Filipino IT student created a virus that almost brought the internet to its knees.
Onel de Guzman was a young computer science student back then, at the AMA Computer College (now AMA University). He was a member of a hacker group and came up with the virus as a straightforward method to steal passwords to gain access to paid services owned by a company, or to sell the password to someone who would use it. The virus could also steal the users’ Microsoft Outlook addresses and passwords. That’s it. The rise of the simplest virus was catastrophic.
Although the incident was an embarrassment for the Philippine government and the country’s IT industry, it did cast a bright light on the talent of young Filipinos like Onel Guzman to hack the world rather than merely hack in the streets.
Many Filipinos consider the international infamy caused by the virus humiliating. However, it showed the world that in a small island nation far away from Silicon Valley, an IT enthusiast could cause chaos in the world.
VirMan did some good but more harm, because it raised awareness of the urgent need for cybersecurity measures around the world to prevent such cyberattacks. This incident demonstrated that IT education in the Philippines must strike a balance between technical know-how and ethical guidance in the 21st century. Given the Philippines’ high regard as the most active global hub for social networking, and the country’s eagerness to digitize its numerous sectors, a sound cybersecurity strategy’s importance cannot be overstated.
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