When did it all begin? In the year 1986, which was the year when one of the first computer viruses was created in Pakistan. The first Virus was “known as the Brain Virus” the virus was known to “occupy unused space on the disk so that it could not be used. It was also the first "stealth" virus, meaning it tried to hide itself from detection” (http://www.exn.ca/nerds/20000504-55

One of the most important questions in relation to this paper is: what is being done in order to prevent future computer virus outbreaks? For starters as of November 5, 2003 Microsoft entered “into a partnership with the FBI, the Secret Service & Interpol in an effort to try and catch the creators of viruses” (http://glenn.typepad.com/news/2003/11/microsoft_puts_.html). Creators of viruses are not only despised by most computer users but they are real criminals wanted by the law. The cause many disruptions and cause consumers entirely too much money worldwide. According to Keith Lourdeau, acting deputy assistant director of the FBI “Such attacks on the Internet cost businesses worldwide millions - some estimates claim billions - of dollars and wreak havoc on individuals by ruining files, hard drives and other critical data. We intend to vigorously pursue the perpetrators of these crimes, and we hope to see additional industry-government collaboration to identify these individuals” Currently the FBI and Microsoft are offering a reward upto $700,000 to those who started the viruses which were considered to be the two most devastating—SoBig, and MsBlast. Not only were they sent to individuals but business nationwide and “caused millions of dollars of damage arlier this year. The systems they shut down included hospitals, airlines and on personal computers”(http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/06/1068013326679.html?from=storyrhs).

Another recent popular worm was one by the name of Blaster which was also discovered in August of 2003. The purpose of Blaster was to cause damage and “cause machines to crash” (http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avc

Some topics in this essay:
Brain Virus”, , Windows XP, FBI Microsoft, Keith Lourdeau, LOVE SAN, Service Interpol, computer viruses, trojan horses, Pakistan Virus, program spreadsheet program, spreadsheet program, viruses worms, millions dollars, unlike viruses, computer users, type infection, harm computers, viruses trojan horses, viruses include,