Viruses are bad for business

The recent "love bug" moved across the globe in a matter of minutes. Computer users, numbering in the millions were infected. Not only were users inconvenienced, but businesses were affected.

ZDNetAsia talks to experts on how viruses are
bad for business.

by Samuel Quek

SINGAPORE, 10 May 2000 - Barely a week after the "ILOVEYOU" virus was first reported, damages of over US$10 billion have already been estimated.

And the costs are still rising - the loveletter virus is expected to exceed the cost of the Melissa virus (US$12 billion).

Asia Pulse also noted that businesses in Japan were spared the worst of the virus attack as it occured over a Japanese holiday, and thanks to safety measures taken during the break - only 63,000 infected cases reported on Monday, 8th May. (The virus was discovered on Thursday, 5th May)

Apparently the business-focused nation took the virus as a serious enough threat for enterprises to be notified by the government in order to minimize the damage.

But what exactly are the costs to a company that has been infected?