The Evolution of Computer Viruses: From Creeper to Ransomware

Introduction

As technology advances, so do the risks associated with it. One of the most significant threats to our digital systems is the evolution of computer viruses. Computer viruses have existed since the early days of computing, and they have consistently grown in complexity and sophistication. Today, viruses have evolved to the point of being able to encrypt a user’s files, using them as hostages until a ransom is paid. In this article, we will discuss the evolution of computer viruses, starting with the first-ever virus and moving forward to the present-day threat of ransomware.

The First Computer Virus: Creeper

The first-ever computer virus was created in the early 1970s by Bob Thomas, a developer at BBN Technologies. This virus was named Creeper and was designed to move through ARPANET, a precursor to the internet. Creeper was not explicitly malicious, and it simply displayed a message on infected computers saying, “I’m the creeper. Catch me if you can!” To remove Creeper, an infected computer operator had to manually delete the virus code.

The Birth of Malware: Brain

Fast forward to 1986, when the first-ever malware was created. Brain was a boot sector virus that infected IBM PC DOS computers. Brain spread through floppy disk sharing and was a much more significant threat than Creeper. Brain was created by two Pakistani brothers who were attempting to protect their medical software from piracy. The virus would change the boot sector on the floppy disk, making it unusable. The brothers included their contact information and asked for payment to provide instructions on how to clean the virus.

The Internet Age: Melissa and ILOVEYOU

As the internet became more accessible, viruses became more prevalent. In 1999, Melissa spread through Microsoft Word documents attached to emails. Opening the infected word document would install the virus and spread to other Microsoft Word documents on the infected computer. The virus could also send emails to the first 50 email addresses in an infected computer’s Microsoft Outlook address book.

ILOVEYOU was created in 2000 and spread through the popular messaging service, MSN Messenger. The virus was attached to a message that read “ILOVEYOU” and had an attachment that claimed to be a love letter. Upon opening the attachment, the virus would run and spread to other files on the computer. ILOVEYOU was responsible for $10 billion in damages worldwide, making it one of the most expensive viruses in history.

The Rise of Ransomware

The most significant threat in the modern era of computer viruses is undoubtedly ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user’s files, making them unusable. The attacker will then demand payment, usually in Bitcoin, as a ransom to provide the encryption key to unlock the files. Ransomware has become so advanced that some attackers are even offering customer support to help victims pay the ransom.

One of the most prominent ransomware attacks was the WannaCry malware that infected thousands of computers in over 150 countries in 2017. The attack utilized a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, which Microsoft had released a fix for earlier that year. Unfortunately, many organizations had not updated their systems, leaving them vulnerable to attack.

Conclusion

In conclusion, computer viruses have come a long way since Creeper displayed a simple message. While some viruses were simply intended to be annoying, others have caused billions of dollars in damage. Ransomware is the most significant threat facing individuals and organizations today, and it is essential to ensure that all security measures are in place to prevent attacks. While there is no foolproof way to prevent virus attacks, staying educated on the latest threats and ensuring security protocols are updated regularly can go a long way in keeping your digital operations safe.