History of Computer Viruses

1
History of Computer Viruses

• By Karly Zyskowski

2
Table of Contents

• Definition of computer virus
• Timeline of computer viruses
• 1986-2004
• References

3
Definition of Computer Virus

• Oxford English Dictionary
• Any sequence of code (esp. one capable of being
  inserted in other programs) which when executed
  causes itself to be copied into other locations,
  and which is therefore capable of propagation
  itself within the memory of a computer or across
  a network, usually with deleterious results.

4
1986

• Brain
• First stealth virus
• Originated in Pakistan
• Brothers Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi

5
1987

• Vienna virus appears
• Lehigh virus discovered
• First Memory resident file infector
• Jerusalem Virus appears

6
1988

• March, First anti-virus program written
• Cascade Virus in Germany
• November, Robert Morris unleashes virus (Internet
  worm)

7
1989

• Datacrime and FuManchu viruses appear
• Vacsina and Yankee virus families appear
• Dark Avenger virus
• Computer virus epidemics in Russia

8
1990

• Chameleon Virus
• First polymorphic virus
• New Viruses developed in Bulgaria
• Development of anti-virus products
• Frodo and Whale stealth viruses

9
1991

• Symantec releases Norton Anti-virus software
• Central-Point releases Central point Anti-virus

10
1992

• March, Michelangelo Virus scare
• Later in the year, Windows virus appears

11
1993

• SatanBug appears in Washington DC
• Viruses are beginning to do serious damage
• Crucher virus
• Considered to be a good virus

12
1994

• Problems with CD viruses
• Panic over GoodTimes virus
• OneHalf virus
• 3APA3A Boot-file virus
• Anti-virus software not prepared
• Kaos4 virus
• SrcVir virus family introduced

13
1995

• Windows 95 released
• Anti-virus companies fear it would be resistant
  to viruses
• Macro viruses appear later in the year, infecting
  MS-Word

14
1996

• Boza Virus
• First virus designed for Windows 95
• Win.tentacle virus
• Concept virus
• Becomes most common virus in world
• Laroux, first virus for Excel
• Start of widespread virus in Windows and
  Microsoft Office

15
1997

• Linux.Bliss Virus
• First for Linux
• Homer Virus
• June, First Self encrypting virus for Windows 95

16
1998

• Win32.HLLP.DeTroie Virus family epidemic
• Win95.HPSWin95.Marburg
• Win95.CIH virus epidemic

17
1999

• Melissa Virus
• Infects computers using Microsoft word
• Passed through Microsoft Outlook and Outlook
  Express
• Caused 80 million in damage

18
2000

• I Love you virus
• Infects using similar methods to Melissa
• Traced to Filipino computer student
• Causes the creation of the European Unions
  global Cyber crime treaty

19
2001

• Code Red Worm
• Infect Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000
  server software
• Causes 2 billion in damages

20
2001

• Nimda virus
• Up to 5 methods of infecting and replicating
• Melissa author, David L. Smith sentenced to 20
  months in federal prison

21
2002

• Klez worm
• Uses Microsoft Outlook directory to send copies
  of itself
• Variations remain most active on the Internet
• Overwrites files and fills them with zeros

22
2003

• Slammer worm
• Infects hundreds of thousands of computers in
  less than 3 hours

23
2004

• MyDoom worm
• Causes problems but does little damage

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References

• A Short History of Computer Viruses and Attacks
• http//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50
  636-2002Jun26.html, 4/7/06
• Oxford English Dictionary http//dictionary.oed.co
  m.ezproxy.morris.umn.edu/cgi/entry/50278145?query_
  typewordquerywordcomputervirusfirst1max_to_
  show10single1sort_typealpha 4/7/06
• The History of Computer Viruses
  http//inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?
  zi1/XJsdninventorszuhttp3A2F2Fwww.virus-sc
  an-software.com2Fvirus-scan-help2Fanswers2Fthe-
  history-of-computer-viruses.shtml, 4/7/06
• The History of Computer Viruses - A Timeline,
  http//www.exn.ca/nerds/20000504-55.cfm, 4/7/06