In 2007 with the release of the “ZeuS” and the “Gozi” malware, IT security changed. Designed to monetise infected computers rather than just generating “noise” as we saw with “ILOVEYOU”, infected computers now became an asset that malware operators could use to steal credentials, credit card data and banking information. The aftermath of the source code of “ZeuS” being released in 2011 also paved the way for a variety of information-stealing/banking-trojans using components in new malware designed with the same purpose.
Today malware plays a vital role in the cybercriminal ecosystem, and while “ILOVEYOU” was not designed to make the creators any money, the social engineering method of trying to lure users into clicking on a link or opening an attachment is probably “ILOVEYOU”‘s most significant legacy.”
