Originating in the Philippines, the malicious ILOVEYOU computer virus swept around the
world in early May, infecting and shutting down hundreds of thousands of electronic-mail and
computer systems. Opening an attachment named LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.VBS activated the
virus program, which would then attempt to send copies of itself via Microsoft Outlook E-mail
software to every entry in the recipient’s address books. The virus caused damage by also searching
for certain types of computer and network files and replacing them with copies of itself.