EPISODE · May 10, 2026 · 18 MIN
The Password That Broke the Internet (Twice)
from Code Curiosities · host Podcaster
In 1988, a Cornell grad student meant to write a harmless program to map the internet. Instead, he created the first major internet worm that brought down 10% of all connected computers. We'll explore how Robert Tappan Morris accidentally became the internet's first cyber-criminal, why his dad tried to stop him, and how this digital disaster helped create the cybersecurity industry we know today. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
In 1988, a Cornell grad student meant to write a harmless program to map the internet. Instead, he created the first major internet worm that brought down 10% of all connected computers. We'll explore how Robert Tappan Morris accidentally became the internet's first cyber-criminal, why his dad tried to stop him, and how this digital disaster helped create the cybersecurity industry we know today.
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The Password That Broke the Internet (Twice)
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