`Worm Virus` damage amounts to 12 billion dollars

The damage amounts cause by a new worm virus called the ‘SQL overflow’, which shook the world, and Korea in last week have been totaled. The damage estimate amounts to 12 billion dollars all across the world.

On February 2nd, according to the professional IT online media called the ‘C-net’, the British market research institute called the ‘Mi2g’ has announced that after five day appearance of ‘SQL overflow’, the total damage in aspects of production loss has been estimated. It amounts to minimum of 9.5 billion to 14 billion dollars. The damage estimate does not include Korea.

This damage amount is comparatively less than other major viruses such as the ‘Win32/Klez worm’ and ‘Love letter’ viruses. It is estimated that the ‘Klez’ has caused 90 billion dollar, the ‘Love letter’ has caused 88 billion dollar and “code: red, worm” has caused 26 billion dollar damages in production losses. The “SQL overflow” ranks nine in the top virus damage chart put out by this firm.

The ‘Mi2g’ categorize the damages in following criteria:

△ Paralysis of internet infrastructure systems such as the Domain Name System (DNS) server △Halt in operation of on-line reservation system including airline tickets △Errors in on-line the payment settlement systems by credit cards and etc. △Paralyzing incidents in the internet web system which occurred in Asian countries including Korea.

The effects of ‘SQL overflow’ have lead to inaccessibility of internet and on-line reservation of various tickets. Most victims of these effects are general public. This is why the damages felt by the public are comparatively higher than other viruses.

Jong sik Kong kong@donga.com