Category: Technology > Virus
The first recognized computer virus, known as "Creeper," was created in the early 1970s by programmer Bob Thomas as an experimental self-replicating program. Creeper was designed to infect mainframe computers running the TENEX operating system and displayed the message, "I'm the creeper, catch me if you can!" While not malicious, it laid the groundwork for understanding how software could replicate and spread across networks. This early experiment in self-replication prompted the development of the first antivirus software, called "Reaper," which was designed to track down and delete Creeper from infected systems. The emergence of Creeper and its counterpart Reaper marked a significant moment in technology, leading to the establishment of cybersecurity as a critical field in computer science, ultimately shaping how we protect our digital infrastructure today.