Write a short note on history of computer Virus?
The history of computer viruses can be traced back to the early days of computing, when programmers began to experiment with creating self-replicating programs. One of the earliest known computer viruses was created in 1971 by a group of researchers at BBN Technologies. Called the "Creeper" virus, it was a relatively harmless program that simply displayed the message "I'm the creeper, catch me if you can!" on infected computers.
In 1981, a more malicious virus called "Elk Cloner" was released. This virus spread via floppy disks and infected Apple II computers. It would display a poem on infected computers and then modify the operating system to make it more vulnerable to future infections.
The first major computer virus to cause widespread damage was the "Morris worm," which was released in 1988 by Robert Morris, a Cornell University graduate student. The Morris worm spread through the internet and infected thousands of computers, causing widespread disruption. It is estimated that the worm caused over $100 million in damage.
In the years since the Morris worm, computer viruses have become increasingly sophisticated and widespread. New viruses are constantly being created, and they can cause a variety of damage, including:
* Stealing personal information
* Deleting or modifying files
* Encrypting files and demanding a ransom to unlock them
* Disrupting network traffic
* Taking control of infected computers
Computer viruses are a serious threat to computer users, and it is important to take steps to protect yourself from them. These steps include:
* Using a strong antivirus program
* Keeping your software up to date
* Being cautious about opening email attachments and clicking on links in emails
* Backing up your data regularly
By taking these steps, you can help to protect yourself from computer viruses and the damage they can cause.