Recently, on social media, CEO BKAV Nguyễn Tử Quảng reminisced with Bfans about an event from the past. Specifically, in November 1998, which was 23 years ago, Mr. Quảng and his colleagues at Hanoi University of Science and Technology helped thwart the scheme to delete data from a dangerous computer virus.
According to a report shared by reporter Nguyễn Hữu Hưng (currently working at Vietnam Television), one year prior, on 25/11/1997, many computers in Vietnam had their data erased by a virus named “Date”. Perhaps because this was an old or not very common virus, we couldn’t find any information about it. However, from the report, it can be seen that “Date” would delete all user data on November 25 every year.
The actions of this virus severely affected several agencies operating in Vietnam, including offices, post offices, and banks. In one law office that was interviewed, the amount of data lost due to the virus was equivalent to the work of 10 people over two years.
To prevent this incident from happening again in 1998, Nguyễn Tử Quảng (at that time still working at Hanoi University of Science and Technology) appeared on VTV’s Morning News to warn about this virus.
“I can confirm that this year there are also computers being damaged on 25/11, because we receive samples of viruses from all over the country daily and still see the Date virus appearing. And some emails and calls inquiring are also related to the Date virus”, Mr. Nguyễn Tử Quảng, then only 23 years old, said on the broadcast.
Through analyzing the code, Mr. Quảng was sure that the Date virus would delete user data on 25/11. However, when making this statement on television, the CEO of BKAV still appeared nervous. Because if for some reason the virus did not delete data, both the reputation of the news team and his own would be affected.
“Even the leadership of the press agency decided to report on it with some doubts. Because if the event does not happen, it will become false news. I myself had some concerns. With my ability and experience in analyzing virus samples over the years, I am confident that my discovery is correct. But if somehow that does not happen, I will lose my credibility gained after many years of contribution to the community,” reporter Hữu Hưng wrote in a post on the Bphone Fans Club group.
“When I issued the warning, I was SURE it would happen but was also nervous. There was also social DOUBT about whether this would happen. The next day, numerous agencies and businesses had their DATA DELETED. Additionally, many units avoided the consequences thanks to the aforementioned news report. Whatever is USEFUL FOR SOCIETY, has a scientific basis, even sometimes disadvantageous or controversial for myself, I accept,” Mr. Nguyễn Tử Quảng shared on social media.
To prevent data loss from the Date virus, the simplest and most effective way proposed is to change the system date and time to another day (e.g., 26/11). Then users can use antivirus software such as BKAV or D32, which were both free at that time.