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Zoomba
Zoomba
Join Date 11/2002
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The Computer Virus Turns 25

And *gasp* it wasn't on Windows!

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July 16, 2007 12:52:09 PM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

25 years ago this month, a 9th grader from Pittsburgh, PA marched into history as being the author of the first recorded computer virus.  It wasn't a malicious virus, really more of a prank to annoy friends and teachers. 

The virus, called Elk Cloner, spread between Apple II computers via floppy disks (the 5.25" variety).  When the computer was booted from an infected floppy, the virus would automatically start.  Once infected, the system would then write a copy of the virus to any clean disk inserted in the drive.  The only reason people knew they had it was because every 50th boot it would display a little "poem" and play a few more subtle, but equally harmless tricks, every 5th boot.

Slashdot has more on the virus, and a lengthy discussion.  Check it out at the link below.

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Zoomba
Philly0381
Join Date 11/2004
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Reply #1 July 16, 2007 1:27:11 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
This has to be the reason I just sneezed!  

EDIT: Over on cNet News, they are saying that it's older.
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Zoomba
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #2 July 16, 2007 2:06:21 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
The Computer Virus Turns 25


Sadly! Shouldn't have survived 'til its 1st birthday...better still, should've been stillborn.

Unfortunately, it survived, and now is impregnating computers all over the world with its illegitimate spawn - bastards of the enth degree, just itching to propagate and send their insidious demon seed into PC's, laptops and PDA's everywhere.

That's right, people, they're out there, infestations just lurking in the shadows of the internet until your computer is most vulnerable, and when it is....lo, deformed and mutant clones of itself will slip in undetected and wreak havoc on your hardware and soft...er more delicate bits. Yes folks, make sure your PC has protection.



....and that pimply faced, wicked litte school boy sure has a lot to answer for.
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Zoomba
ProgrammerLord
Join Date 10/2006
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Reply #3 July 16, 2007 3:34:18 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

The Computer Virus Turns 25


Sadly! Shouldn't have survived 'til its 1st birthday...better still, should've been stillborn.

Unfortunately, it survived, and now is impregnating computers all over the world with its illegitimate spawn - bastards of the enth degree, just itching to propagate and send their insidious demon seed into PC's, laptops and PDA's everywhere.

That's right, people, they're out there, infestations just lurking in the shadows of the internet until your computer is most vulnerable, and when it is....lo, deformed and mutant clones of itself will slip in undetected and wreak havoc on your hardware and soft...er more delicate bits. Yes folks, make sure your PC has protection.



....and that pimply faced, wicked litte school boy sure has a lot to answer for.


You certainly seem to have a stereotype on hackers and programmers if your unaware there are three terms for hackers white hat a hacker who hacks for a good purpose and is normally hired by company's to find security holes in there systems, then there is Grey hat hacker which hacks out of curiosity and normally doesn't contribute to much damage and some times will turn there findings into the manager of the website they hacked and so forth then you have the black hat hacker the one the public stereotypes they tend to be hired by gangs to launder money write virus that steal credit card information these hackers tend to write the viruses that can harm your your security and these are the viruses that you most likely come in contact with since the goal of these viruses are not out of fun or curiosity they are ment to exploit you and harm you generally money wise.

~Also programmers don't always have pimples also the reason the virus has survived is probably because it being kept as a piece of history. Also it is not a worm and dose not mutate.~
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Zoomba
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #4 July 16, 2007 10:13:21 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
You certainly seem to have a stereotype on hackers and programmers


No, not at all....my little piece was written with tongue in cheek and intended to be humorous....and certainly not personalised in any way to refer to hackers of any kind.

As with viruses in the organic world, computer generated viruses/worms, etc, seemingly are able to propagate and multiply at will, and as with organic viruses: for example STD's, one has to protect themselves/their PC's against them: ie, buy a condom/AV protection.
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