> nov 11, 1983 - fred cohen demonstrated the first computer virus in his
> comp.sec. class at usc... later study of the concept with his prof.
> leonard adleman (the a from rsa) resulted in the term "computer virus"
> being coined (by the aforementioned prof.)...
Well, according our book in 'information technology' (thats "computing")
in school (I'll translate from norwegian, as well as I'm capable of):
"Computer viri started as innocent 'games' "  (I couldn't find a better 
rd).
In 1949 the computer pioneer John von Neumann presented a modell of a
virus program.  In his work "Theory and organization of Complicated Autmata"
he made the theory of a computer program capable of reproducing.  He was not
taken seriously by his readers... the computer (read: "advanced computeres
like those today") didn't exist yet.
10 years later, three young genouses, H. Douglas McIlroy, Victor Vysottsky
and Robert Morris, was seated at the super-machines of the time at AT&T's
Bell Labs.  They understood Neumanns theories, and they arranged "Core Wars",
pure cock-fights between their programs.
They made programs that should reproduce and destory the opponents program,
and when the battle was over, they deleted the programs and went home for the
day.  No damage was done, and their employer loved their enthusiasm for
computers outside work-hours.  The 'games' spread 'underground' in other
high-tech laboratories.  They competed to make the 'strongest' program.
Suddenly "the bubble broke" (It was revealed).  Ken Thompson, known for
making Unix, got a price for revealing how to make a computer viri.
He recomended those who listened to his speach to try the same.  And they
did.  Scientific American brought the information further and offered their
readers the detailed instructions sent to them for two dollars.
[...]
I dunno who's right.  My book (used in school) or you(?)
    Rune Kristian Viken, aka Fifth Arcade^RaP'97.  SysOp at Arcade's BBS    
    E-Mail: arcade@bristol.fix.no; oBTW: Try out Arcade's BBS & YouthNet    
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