AUTHOR Q&A: New techno-thriller ‘The Virus’ simulates an AI malware outbreak gone global

Eddy Willems has been a steady, pragmatic voice in cybersecurity for decades — known for breaking down complex threats in ways real people can understand.

Related: AI fueling disinformaton

With

The Virus, he tries something new: a fast-paced techno-thriller that fuses autobiography with speculative fiction. The result reads part memoir, part cautionary tale, part simulation of how a global cyber outbreak might unfold.

The story toggles between threat briefings and the fictional rise of “Doomware,” a novel virus that spirals from localized disruption into full-blown global crisis. Willems casts himself as a lightly fictionalized version of his real-life role, offering insight through scenes that draw on years of direct frontline experience.

In today’s threat landscape — shaped by AI acceleration, ransomware-as-a-service, and politicized disinformation — The Virus feels eerily plausible. Its fictional twists are anchored in real-world behaviors and known vulnerabilities. Because Willems never strays too far from facts, the book functions as both gripping story and subtle cybersecurity literacy. It doesn’t preach, but it lands with urgency.

This kind of storytelling fills a growing need. As generative AI and global unrest destabilize digital trust, audiences need more than headlines — they need vivid frameworks to internalize what’s at stake. The Virus may prove more useful as wake-up call than novel.

Willems himself is a well-known figure in the European cybersecurity community. Over four decades, he’s helped shape the landscape — co-founding EICAR in 1991, one of the first IT security organizations in the world, and working with companies including G DATA, Kaspersky, and Westcon.

Today he runs WAVCi, operating as an independent security evangelist delivering keynotes globally, while serving on the boards of EICAR and LSEC. When someone with his real-world experience sounds the alarm — even in fiction — it’s worth paying attention. Last Watchdog recently sat down with Willems to get the backstory.

LW: Why write The Virus as a thriller instead of nonfiction analysis?

Willems: I already wrote Cyberdanger back in 2019 — a nonfiction book covering how cybersecurity evolved and how people can protect themselves. With The Virus, I wanted to reach a broader audience and raise awareness about digital threats in a more engaging way.

I tested this approach in the final chapter of Cyberdanger — a short story called Awakenings. It’s the prequel to The Virus, same main characters. A thriller felt like the right way to make cybersecurity accessible to readers who would never pick up a traditional nonfiction book.

LW: How much is drawn from your own career?

Willems:: Quite a lot. The “three amigos” of the security industry — my good friends Righard Zwienenberg, Luis Corrons, and myself — we really do exist. At conferences we often meet exactly as described in the book.

I also did consultancy and training work at NATO HQ, so involving NATO felt natural. The ransomware and malware elements are all inspired by real-world cases. And the human factor plays a major role — without human naivety, curiosity, or simple mistakes, most malware wouldn’t stand a chance.

LW: What makes “Doomware” a realistic threat?

Willems: “Doomware” becomes realistic the moment AI stops being properly controlled. We’ve already seen AI misused to create malware. In 2025 an AI LLM even played a role in a large-scale coordinated attack on several companies.

History has shown how fast uncontrolled malware can spread. SQL Slammer in 2003 infected over 75,000 servers in under 10 minutes. WannaCry in 2017 spread across more than 150 countries within hours. Both lacked a catastrophic payload — we were lucky.

An AI-driven global malware outbreak is not far-fetched. We’re closer to a Doomware scenario than most people think.

LW: Who is the book for?

Willems: The general public, first and foremost. Although insiders seem to enjoy it too — some have told me they recognized characters or felt at home in the environments.

Interestingly, The Virus is being used as a cybersecurity awareness tool in two European projects: CYSSME and CYSSDE, coordinated by LSEC and co-funded by the European Commission. They help SMEs strengthen their cybersecurity.

LW: You appear in the story as yourself. Why?

Willems: I first tested this in Cyberdanger when I wrote Awakenings. Including myself makes the story feel more alive, helps ground the fictional elements in reality.

That said, I’m not the main character. The real protagonists are my son Frank — a communications officer in real life — and Lara Hartman, a fictional Europol inspector. My cameo is similar to Hitchcock appearing briefly in his films.

Funny story: after The Virus was released, I gave a book talk at NATO HQ. Several people told me they got a strange sensation when I walked in — because they had just read about me in the story. Exactly the effect I hoped for.

LW: Do you see this book as a warning?

Willems: As a warning, primarily. Almost everyone has experienced some form of cybercrime. Through fiction, I wanted to show what could happen if cybercrime continues to evolve.

At the same time, I hope the book gives readers a clearer understanding of real-world cyber threats. Without the dryness of a technical manual.

LW: What feedback stuck with you?

Willems: First, my co-author Alain Dierckx played a crucial role. He has much more experience writing thrillers. Without his expertise, this book would never have been the same.

One early review came from a German journalist at Cyber Security Magazine who read the Dutch manuscript. He said the book “reads like a James Bond movie” — full of twists that keep you engaged. He also highlighted how realistically the main characters are portrayed.

He added that my expertise shines in the scenes involving computer technology and anti-virus topics. Those moments introduce a learning effect, which is exactly what we intended: a thriller that entertains while making readers more cyber-aware.

Pulitzer Prize-winning business journalist Byron V. Acohido is dedicated to fostering public awareness about how to make the Internet as private and secure as it ought to be.

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