How the First Computer Virus Was Born on the ARPANET

Long before ransomware and malware cost billions, the first computer virus was a harmless experiment. In 1971, Bob Thomas at BBN Technologies created Creeper, a program that moved across the ARPANET displaying a simple message: 'I'm the creeper, catch me if you can.' It wasn't malicious — it was a proof of concept for mobile code. Soon after, another program called Reaper was built to delete it, becoming the first antivirus. This episode traces the origin of computer viruses from that playful start to the first PC virus, Brain, in 1986. We explore how a lab experiment unwittingly spawned an entire cybersecurity industry, and what the early days teach us about the arms race between creators and protectors. #FirstComputerVirus #CreeperVirus #BobThomas #ARPANET #BBNTechnologies #Reaper #AntivirusHistory #BrainVirus #CybersecurityOrigins #Technology #TechHistory #SiliconValleyPioneers #ComputerScience #DigitalEra #MalwareEvolution #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TechInnovation Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo