The Unexpected Journey of a Virus and a Dream

In the early 1990s, a small computer virus named Virus Málaga quietly spread across the computers at Málaga’s Polytechnic School. It was mostly harmless, but it sparked a passion in a young student named Bernardo Quintero. His teacher challenged him to create an antivirus for the 2610-byte program, igniting a lifelong interest in cybersecurity. Years later, Quintero founded VirusTotal, a startup that caught Google’s attention. In 2012, Google acquired the company, bringing its European cybersecurity hub to Málaga. This transformation was all thanks to a virus created by someone Quintero had never met. Intrigued and grateful, Quintero decided to find the anonymous programmer. He started by asking Spanish media for help and diving back into the virus’s code. His efforts paid off when he discovered a hidden message: "KIKESOYYO, " which translates to "I am Kike, " a common nickname for Enrique.Around the same time, Quintero received a message from a man who claimed to have witnessed a classmate create the virus. The man provided a name—Antonio Astorga—but also shared the sad news that he had passed away. Quintero was disappointed but kept searching. He learned from Astorga’s sister that his full name was Antonio Enrique, and he was known as Kike to his family. Astorga’s legacy didn’t end with his passing. He became a computing teacher, and his school named its IT classroom after him. His son, Sergio, recently graduated with a degree in software engineering and has an interest in cybersecurity and quantum computing. Quintero found meaning in this connection, seeing new generations building on Astorga’s work. The story of Virus Málaga is more than just a tale of a virus and a dream. It’s a reminder of how small actions can have big impacts. Astorga’s virus not only sparked Quintero’s career but also transformed Málaga into a tech hub. It’s a testament to the power of curiosity and the lasting legacy of those who inspire us.