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Abstract
In May 4, 2000, the VBS/LoveLetter worm, otherwise known as the Love Bug, became the fastest-spreading computer worm in history, costing an estimated $2 billion to $15 billion to clean up and repair the damage. Not only did the Love Bug worm attack individuals, but it shut down corporate and government e-mail servers, including those belonging to Microsoft, the Pentagon, Ford Motors, the CIA, Lucent Technologies and the British Parliament. While such widespread devastation captured the headline news, the more important question is, "What can we expect from the virus, worm and Trojan Horse writers of tomorrow?" To understand the Love Bug worm, you need to know the distinctions between the different malware (short for Malicious Software) programs: viruses, worms and Trojan Horses. The main distinction among all three programs is the way they spread. As viruses and worms become easier to write and even easier to modify, expect to see more copycat macro viruses and worms in the future. Within days of the original Love Bug worm's release, programmers quickly created 29 new variations. Although most changes were as trivial as changing the subject line message, it proved drastic enough to slip past many of the e-mail filters ISPs hastily erected.