
First Known Virus
Creeper
Experimental,
self-replicating worm that does not damage data but generates a message that reads: “I’m the creeper: catch me if you can”
First PC Virus
Brian
Built in Pakistan, affects the boot sector of storage media using stealth tactics
First Internet Worm
Morris
Immobilized 6,000 computers, $100,000 to 10,000,000 in damages, affected universities, military facilities, and NASA
Mass-Mailing Virus
Melissa
Not a worm, dispersed via email, affected over 100,000 computers in under 72 hours
Email Worm
ILOVEYOU
Email scam with an infected attachment, affected 10% of internet-connected computers worldwide, a setback of over $20 billion
Mass-Mailer Worm
MyDoom
One of the most damaging mass-mailer viruses, contains a backdoor for remote control of compromised systems and triggers DoS attacks
First Crypto-Ransomware
Trojan.Gpcoder
Disguised as a PC cleanup app which prompts consumers to pay for services
First Weaponized Malware
Stuxnet
Infected Iran’s nuclear centrifuges in addition to 100,000 other computers
Point-Of-Sale Malware
Target Stores
70 to 110 million Target customer records affected, exposed credit and debit card information
Strategic Data Heist
Sony Pictures
50,000 Social Security numbers obtained, in addition to Sony Pictures’ unreleased films and other proprietary information
Industrial Malware
Energetic Bear
Russian industrial espionage attacks gained entry into the computers of over 1,000 oil and gas companies
Government Breach
US Office of Personnel Management
Personal data of 21.5 million at the US Office of Personnel Management breached, including Social Security numbers and fingerprints
First Infrastructure Attack
Ukrainian Power Grid
IT team tricked by social engineering, blackouts resulted across Ukraine
Geographic Attack
Turkish Citizenship Database
Personal data of 50 million Turkish citizens (two-thirds of the population) leaked
- http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/cyber-security/information-security-survey.html
- http://www.toptenreviews.com/software/articles/what-was-the-first-antivirus-software/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creeper_(program)
- https://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/about/media/securityintelligence/SSR-Timeline.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_(computer_virus)
- http://www.syracuse.com/vintage/2016/01/thrpt-row rowback_thursday_cornell_stu.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_worm
- http://www.cert.org/historical/tech_tips/Melissa_FAQ.cfm?
- http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2363172,00.asp
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILOVEYOU
- https://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/about/media/securityintelligence/SSR-Timeline.pdf
- https://blog.barracuda.com/2016/03/27/the-evolution-of-ransomware/
- https://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2005-052215-5723-99
- https://gcn.com/articles/2012/06/26/stuxnet-demise-expiration-date.aspx
- http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/11/business/target-breach-affected-70-million-customers.html?_r=0
- http://www.securityweek.com/target-confirms-point-sale-malware-was-used-attack
- http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/business/media/sony-attack-first-a-nuisance-swiftly-grew-into-a-firestorm-.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Pictures_Entertainment_hack
- http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/technology/energy-sector-faces-attacks-from-hackers-in-russia.html
- http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/10/us/office-of-personnel-management-hackers-got-data-of-millions.html?_r=0
- http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/06/turkey-is-investigating-leak-of-50-million-citizens-data/