Computer Virus Melissa

Computer virus Melissa or W97M/Melissa was discovered on 26th March 1999. It became the fastest spreading virus until then encountered and hence its notoriety. In just a few days Melissa had an enormous impact. Corporations, including Microsoft were forced to shut down their email systems.

Computer users around the world learned that they had to be really careful about opening email attachments, even when the sender is known to them. Melissa replicated by sending emails from an infected host to recipients listed in the host's address book. The use of Outlook as the delivery vehicle meant that business and corporate users were the specific targets of the virus.

One immediate outcome was that sales of anti-virus products took off.

For 2 to 3 weeks in 1999, Melissa earned a mention in just about every board room on the planet. Before Melissa, viruses were generally "known" about. Melissa gave many corporate executives their first opportunity of having a personal "experience" with a virus and in a potentially very embarrassing way.

Today most of us have installed either a commercial antivirus or a free antivirus on our laptops and corporate servers. Melissa taught us how expensive it can be to be without email, even for just a day or two.

Since 1999, laptop security has become a much bigger issue. Dozens of new viruses are released every day, hacking is endemic and laptop encryption increasingly recognized as being more than just a good idea.