History of computer viruses: from curiosity to cybercrime

The history of computer viruses is as fascinating as it is disturbing, full of ingenuity, technological challenges, and constant evolution. Delving into their origins and development reveals the birth of modern computing, the creativity of brilliant minds, and, of course, the eternal battle between digital attack and defense. From early academic theories, through harmless pranks and experiments, to sophisticated threats capable of jeopardizing businesses and governments, the journey of these malicious programs teaches us a lot about our relationship with technology.

Understanding the path of computer viruses is not only a matter of technical curiosity, but also of security and prevention for anyone who uses connected devices. In this article, you'll discover how they emerged, who was behind the most significant events, how their methods of propagation and attack have evolved, and how they have affected society in general.

The Origins: The Theory Behind Computer Viruses

To talk about the history of computer viruses, we must go back long before personal computers existed as we know them today. The first serious exploration of the concept of a self-replicating program occurred in academia in the 1940s, thanks to the mathematician and physicist John von Neumann. He never spoke of "viruses" as such, but he did lay the groundwork, in his work "Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata" (1966), for how a mechanical entity—or a fragment of code—could not only replicate itself but also spread and even cause damage to other systems.

Neumann's idea was so ahead of its time that the infrastructure to put it into practice didn't even exist. This thought experiment suggested that, like a biological virus, a computer program could replicate and infect other systems, creating a kind of artificial life. Over the years, these concepts materialized as computers evolved and became more interconnected, paving the way for the first real-life experiments.

The birth of the first computer virus: Creeper

The leap from theory to practice didn't take long. In 1971, Bob Thomas, an employee of BBN Technologies, developed the first computer virus in history: Creeper. This program was far from a malicious threat; it was conceived as a proof of concept. The primary intention was to demonstrate that it was possible to create software capable of moving between computers within the ARPANET, the predecessor of the Internet and, at the time, a small network controlled primarily by the United States Department of Defense.

Creeper did not destroy information or steal data. What it did was simply replicate itself, jumping from one terminal to another and displaying the message: “I'M THE CREEPER. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!” While it may seem harmless today, it was revolutionary at the time, marking the beginning of viral computing.

A curious fact is that to stop Creeper, Ray Tomlinson—famous for inventing email—created the first antivirus in history, called Reaper. This program was dedicated to scanning the network, finding computers infected by Creeper and eliminating it, thus establishing the eternal game of cat and mouse between computer attacks and defenses.

First experiments and viral pranks

During the 70s and early 80s, computer viruses remained a matter of curiosity and experimentation, rather than actual damage. A famous example was the Rabbit (or Wabbit) virus, which emerged in 1974. Unlike Creeper, Rabbit was designed for malicious purposes: when it infected a computer, it replicated itself massively, filling the system with copies of itself and crippling performance to the point of being unusable.

Another significant example from this decade is the Elk Cloner virus, created in 1982 by Rich Skrenta, a 15-year-old teenager. This virus spread via floppy disks on Apple II computers and was more annoying than harmful: after a certain number of restarts, it displayed a poem on the screen. Although it was intended as a hoax, Elk Cloner was the first virus to circulate "outside the laboratory," affecting home users and popularizing the idea of ​​programs that spread without permission.

In 1983, scientist Fred Cohen formally coined the term “computer virus.” His academic experiment demonstrated how a small piece of code could be covertly installed and replicated in other programs, largely based on the definition of infection. This milestone was key for the scientific community to begin addressing the problem from a real computer security perspective, and not just as a curiosity.

The Rise of PC Viruses: Brain and Vienna

The next major step in the history of computer viruses took place in 1986, with the appearance of the first virus for IBM PC: Brain. Created by brothers Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi in ​​Pakistan, Brain was designed to protect their software from piracy. It infected the Boot of the floppy disks, displaying messages from the authors themselves and slowing down the system's operation, although it did not destroy files.

What makes Brain especially relevant is that it was the first truly international virus: its spread was so rapid that its creators received calls from all over the world from affected people asking for help in eliminating the virus. Although not destructive, it set a precedent for the use of viruses to claim rights or protest abuses, and demonstrated how easily malicious software could travel on floppy disks.

A few years later, another iconic virus called Vienna appeared on the scene. This virus, unlike Brain, was designed to cause damage, destroying files on MS-DOS computers for no apparent reason. Vienna was the first virus neutralized by a specific antivirus, created by Brend Fix, and marked the beginning of the development of the antivirus industry and the rise of social awareness about the need to protect computer systems.

From simple curiosity to cybercrime: the 80s and 90s

The late 80s and early 90s saw the transformation of computer viruses into real threats for all users. The diversification of virus types began to become evident with the emergence of malware, Trojans, worms, and others. In 1989, the first known ransomware appeared: the AIDS Trojan, created by Joseph Popp. This program hid user files after a certain number of reboots and demanded a "ransom" payment to recover the data.

During the 90s, the big breakthrough was the appearance of macro viruses. These viruses were housed in documents of Microsoft Word or Excel, and began to spread through files, especially via email. The explosion of home and office computing facilitated the spread of viruses like Concept, which infected documents in a matter of seconds and crossed borders uncontrollably.

One of the most iconic moments came in 1992 with Michelangelo, which caused worldwide panic due to its ability to activate on a specific date and destroy all data on an infected computer. Although the number of affected people was not as high as feared, Michelangelo awakened society to the need for active protection and provided a definitive boost to the antivirus industry.

The phenomenon of email and social engineering

The global spread of email provided the perfect breeding ground for the emergence of social engineering in computer viruses. In 1999, Melissa became the first major attack distributed via email using deception techniques: the user received a message with an attachment, and upon opening it, the virus was automatically forwarded to all of the affected user's contacts, spreading exponentially.

This method was perfected with the arrival of the famous ILOVEYOU in May 2000. Originating in the Philippines, this worm was presented as an attachment in an email titled "I Love You." Upon execution, the virus overwrote numerous files and forwarded the message to the entire contact list, infecting thousands of computers in just a few hours and causing millions in losses. Its impact was such that for the first time, global society understood that the threat could come from someone they trusted, forcing greater caution. emails unexpected and the rise of social engineering as an attack technique.

The importance of these threats is that they demonstrate that the greatest vulnerability of any system remains the user himself. The technical sophistication of the virus was not as important as its ability to trick victims into clicking on suspicious links or opening suspicious files.

Viruses, worms and Trojans: a constant evolution

The beginning of the new millennium brought with it the diversity and sophistication of modern malware. Viruses, worms (capable of spreading without human intervention), and Trojans (which disguise themselves as legitimate programs) began to coexist and evolve rapidly. A paradigmatic example is the Code Red worm, which in 2001 exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet servers and caused global damage, using infected computers to launch coordinated attacks against websites such as that of the White House.

Other famous names are Mydoom (2004), which managed to infect up to 25% of the world's email, and Conficker (2008), which is still active with new variants and was especially difficult to eradicate due to its ability to disable security measures and update itself. These viruses highlighted the urgency of maintaining OS and always up-to-date security programs, as well as the importance of having a comprehensive security strategy.

Modern Threats: Ransomware, Botnets, and Critical Vulnerabilities

The evolution of malware continued in the 2000s. Starting in 2005, ransomware and botnets became the protagonists of the new wave of threats. Ransomware is a type of virus that encrypts or locks user information and demands payment (usually in cryptocurrencies, ) to free it. Iconic cases like the AIDS Trojan in the 80s were dwarfed by WannaCry in 2017, which affected hospitals, businesses, and public agencies around the world, encrypting their data and blocking essential services until a ransom was paid.

Botnets, on the other hand, are networks of infected devices (computers, mobile phones, and even connected appliances) that are controlled remotely to send spam, spread malware, or execute distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks can paralyze critical services and have made cybercrime a much more profitable and dangerous industry.

Another crucial chapter in recent history is the emergence of critical vulnerabilities such as Heartbleed in 2014. Heartbleed wasn't a virus itself, but rather a security flaw in the OpenSSL cryptographic library, used on numerous servers worldwide. It allowed attackers to extract sensitive information from server memory, including passwords and encryption keys, demonstrating that risks stem not only from malicious programs but also from flaws in legitimate software.

The diversity of threats: types of current computer viruses

Today, computer viruses don't just replicate the model of their predecessors. There's a huge variety of threats that use increasingly specialized techniques. Among them, the following stand out:

• Adware: displays unwanted or misleading advertising, hindering the user experience.
• Spyware: collects personal information and browsing habits without permission.
• Worms: They spread between computers and networks, saturating resources and allowing the entry of other malware.
• Ransomware: kidnaps data in exchange for payment.
• Trojans: They disguise themselves as legitimate applications to give remote access to attackers.
• Phishing: tricks victims into installing malicious programs through fake emails or messages.

Current sophistication includes the use of Artificial Intelligence to create more effective and customized attacks, testing the defense capabilities of both users and large companies. To understand how to protect yourself from these dangers, we recommend that you consult specialized resources in types of computer viruses.

The role of defense: antivirus and cybersecurity specialists

As computer viruses evolve, tools and strategies have been developed to counter them. Antivirus software, which began as simple programs capable of detecting and removing known threats, has advanced to incorporate behavioral analysis, artificial intelligence, and real-time updates to identify new malware variants.

However, no technical solution is foolproof without good security practices. The human factor remains the weakest link, so training and awareness are essential. In the business world, having specialists in ciberseguridad Being able to monitor, identify, and resolve breaches or vulnerabilities is essential. In the home environment, keeping devices updated, avoiding opening suspicious emails, and protecting personal information is the best defense against growing threats.

The influence of networks and digital culture

With the advent of social media and global communication via the Internet, malware has found an even faster and more effective means of spreading. Instant messaging platforms, mobile applications, and collaborative environments have facilitated the spread of viruses and Trojans at a speed unthinkable decades ago. Furthermore, today's digital culture has normalized the massive exchange of information, which increases the chances of malware slipping in unnoticed.

This context forces us to continually rethink protection strategies and to assume that the battle between malware creators and cybersecurity specialists is a long-distance race, where innovation and constant adaptation are essential.

Where are we going? The future of computer viruses

Looking to the future of computer viruses means accepting that change is the only constant. What began as simple cybervandalism has now become organized cybercrime with economic, political, or even personal motivations.

New generations of malware include nearly undetectable remote access Trojans, threats specifically designed to mobile devices or the Internet of Things (IoT), and attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in points of sale or critical infrastructure. Everything indicates that attackers will continue to look for ways to circumvent traditional defenses, using techniques such as polymorphism (code that changes its form to avoid detection), highly personalized targeted attacks and even the use of IA to optimize your campaigns.

In this race, adaptability, collaboration between experts, and public awareness will be key to minimizing the impact of future threats. The history of computer viruses continues to be written every day, and it is everyone's responsibility to be prepared for the new challenges posed by the digital age.

The evolution of computer viruses faithfully reflects the progress of technology and human creativity, both for good and ill. From academic experiments to the most sophisticated cybercrime, these programs have changed the way we use and protect our devices. The best weapon we have remains knowledge and prevention. Stay informed, protect your systems, and don't underestimate the ingenuity of both attackers and those defending cyberspace.