Truth About Computer Security Hysteria
First IBM PC virus celebrates 15th birthday
Rob Rosenberger, Vmyths co-founderMonday, 29 January 2001 THE PAKISTANI BRAIN virus turned 15 years old in January according to virus researcher Dr. David Stang.[1] The antivirus world regards it as the "first" virus written for the IBM PC, and it arguably signaled the "birth" of the virus problem we know today.
The first IBM PC virus turned 15 years old in January. What do its creators do these days? Why, they sell e-commerce solutions, of course...I wanted to throw a party for Pakistani Brain, but my wife's old Easy Bake Oven conked out. So much for cupcakes. Then I rummaged around for my old Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker, hoping I could make some worms as a birthday gift. (Worms. Viruses. Get it?) But I guess my mother threw it out after each of my siblings burned themselves on the hotplate. So much for toxic-flavored gummi worms. I note Pakistani Brain's birthday for two reasons. First, antivirus vendors still can't decide on its formal name. We won't get a formal name for it until vendors agree on a standard naming convention. "Come on, Rob, we don't have enough time to worry about virus names because we're too busy fighting them." Hmmm, good point. Perhaps we'll see a naming convention in the next fifteen years. Second, Nick FitzGerald (formerly of Virus Bulletin) pointed out an ISP in Lahore, Pakistan. Anyone familiar with Pakistani Brain will recognize the ISP's contact information. FitzGerald and I asked the same question: "would you buy an e-commerce solution from these guys?"