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20 Years of Computer Viruses

Tuxedo Jack writes "The Register reports that twenty years ago today (19 January 1986), the first computer virus, Brain, was discovered. By modern standards, this was a minor virus, and it spread by floppy disks, which is a far cry from the network-aware worms of today. Still, though, it was the first noted virus, and we've had twenty years of pain and annoyance from it and its successors. Happy birthday, Brain, you and all your little virus friends - just know we're doing our damndest to keep you from having more."

12 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Yay for viruses! by Jailbrekr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thanks to the Blaster virus, I'm getting married in 2 days. See, viruses aren't all bad.

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    Feed the need: Digitaladdiction.net
  2. Happy Birthday, Virus! by pHatidic · · Score: 5, Funny

    I LOVE YOU

  3. Re:first PC virus by Neo-Rio-101 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The brothers reportedly created the virus to deter pirated copies of software they had written.

    Predecessor to the SONY rootkit!
    *ducks*

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    READY.
    PRINT ""+-0
  4. Viral Wartime... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you are getting married because of a viral outbreak, then it's simplest to just think of yourself as a virtual-wartime profiteer.

  5. Virus writers have been teching up for 20 years by patio11 · · Score: 4, Funny

    20 years ago: Beware of this VIRUS
    20 days ago: lol this is not a virus

  6. Re:first PC virus by eweu · · Score: 4, Funny

    See? Apples have always had innovations years before PCs.

    The only computer virus I've ever had was the WDEF virus. Disinfectant caught it right away. That was 1992, so I guess I'm too smug.

  7. Re:first PC virus by scdeimos · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh well, Sony won't be able to claim Prior Art.

  8. 20 years of Windows, too! by freeweed · · Score: 4, Funny

    Windows is also 20 years old, give or take a couple of months.

    Laugh, it's a joke. Windows wasn't even natively network aware until 10 years later :)

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
  9. 20 years! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Coincidently, it was twenty years ago today that my first sexually transmiteed virus, Herpes, was discovered. Compared to today's potential bird flu, its a minor virus, and like Brain, it spread by my "floppy disk" (as I like to call it). Still, though, it was my first noted virus, and I've had twenty years of pain and annoyance from it and its many successors. Happy birthday, Herpes, you and all your little virus friends - just know I'm doing my damndest to keep myself from having more.

  10. Gee, Brain. What do you want to do tonight? by Bimkins · · Score: 5, Funny

    The same thing we do every night, Pinky, try to infect the world!

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    If you smoke after sex, you're doing it too fast.
  11. Congratulations... by caitsith01 · · Score: 5, Funny

    You will soon be the first ./ user to 'do the worm' twice in one year.

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    Read Pynchon.
  12. Re:"Network aware" worms by PenisLands · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, you're certainly living up to your name, Mr BadAnalogyGuy.
    (Just joking, no offense meant.)