The Journey of Bernardo Quintero: From Curiosity to Cybersecurity Pioneer
At just 14 years old, @bquintero received his first computer, an Amstrad PC-1512, in 1987, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey in the world of technology. This early exposure to computing ignited his curiosity and passion for programming, ultimately leading to his groundbreaking work in cybersecurity.
The Birth of an Antivirus
While exploring the capabilities of his new machine, Quintero encountered an unusual phenomenon: a little white ball moved across the screen unprompted. Upon investigation, he discovered this was not just a glitch, but a computer virus. Driven by the desire to combat this digital threat, he dedicated the next three years to developing his first antivirus tool, capable of recognizing and eliminating seven different viruses.
Education: Igniting a New Venture
Quintero’s journey took a pivotal turn when he began studying Computer Science at the Polytechnic University School of Malaga. One day in class, a professor invited students to undertake a Pascal programming project for extra credit. When Quintero mentioned his previous experience with antivirus software, the professor was intrigued and brought him to his office to discuss an issue the IT department was facing—a virus his antivirus could not detect.
Fragment of the code in Turbo Pascal 5.5 of the antivirus developed by Bernardo Quintero in 1992.
Solving the Mystery of the ‘Málaga’ Virus
Quintero seized the opportunity, returning home with an infected disk. After hours of debugging, he successfully created a tool that could detect and eliminate the pesky “Málaga” virus. This achievement not only boosted his academic performance but also laid the groundwork for what would eventually become VirusTotal, a platform that revolutionized antivirus testing.
Quintero chronicled these experiences in his recent novel, ‘Infected,’ detailing his early days in cybersecurity and the journey leading to the founding of VirusTotal, which would later be acquired by Google.
After Years of Obscurity: The Quest to Uncover the Virus’s Creator
Years passed, and the “Málaga” virus slipped from Quintero’s immediate focus. However, he reignited his interest three years ago with a post on Twitter, seeking to identify the virus’s creator, believed to be from the Polytechnic School of Informatics. While he initially sought contact to share stories, the mystery remained unresolved.
A New Lead in the Investigation
Recently, Quintero made a renewed effort to solve the mystery. He shared a recap of his findings on LinkedIn, prompting responses from numerous individuals who attended the Polytechnic of Malaga at the time. After evaluating their claims, he has narrowed down potential candidates, revealing one individual who aligns closely with new data he’s gathered.
The conclusion of this quest appears imminent as Quintero stated, “I just need to clear up one unknown to confirm the author.” As the story unfolds, he promises to share more details that could shed light on this lingering technological mystery.
In conclusion, the saga of Bernardo Quintero and the Málaga virus not only highlights the origins of VirusTotal but also underscores the evolving nature of cybersecurity, urging us to appreciate the complex histories that shape our digital landscape.
Image | Mika Baumeister