| A Historic Timeline of Computer Viruses | | | | developed and released the very first anti virus |
| 1945 A moth trapped between relays in a Naval | | | | software product. |
| computer was discovered to be the cause of the | | | | 1987 European Bernt Fix claims to have created an |
| computer's problems. The naval commander then | | | | anti virus software |
| coined the terms "bug", to refer to problems with | | | | 1988 The antivirus software Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus |
| electrical devices and "debugging" to describe efforts | | | | Toolkit was released by Alan Solomon, of Great Britan. |
| to fix computer problems. | | | | 1990's By this time there were approximately 19 anti |
| 1949 A Hungarian scientist developed the theory of | | | | virus software programs including the well-known |
| self-replicating programs. | | | | Symantec's Norton Anti Virus software, ViruScan by |
| 1950-1970 A variety of electrical and computer related | | | | McAfee; and IBM's Anti Virus. |
| complications lead to the development of current | | | | 1994 A Symantec takeover occurred allowing it to |
| viruses, including the unlawful tapping of telephone "blue | | | | acquire many of the smaller anti virus software |
| oxes" to intercept calls and telephone numbers. | | | | protection companies making it one of the largest anti |
| Also during this time a computer "worm" was designed | | | | virus software services available. |
| by Xerox Palo Alto Research Center to search for | | | | In the 1990's major corporations were being formed to |
| systems that are not functioning. Designed to create | | | | develop and create anti virus software. During this time |
| more efficient computer processing and use, the | | | | the prominent company of Kaspersky Labs was |
| "worm" became the ancestor to the current | | | | formed as well as the development of the Antiviral |
| generation of destructive computer viruses. | | | | Toolkit Pro (AVP) anti-virus scanner system. |
| 1983 One of the most famous instances of computer | | | | International distribution and product support became |
| hacking, young computer hackers broke into United | | | | paramount in combating computer viruses with the |
| States government computer systems with an Apple | | | | transmittal of information across the globe as well as |
| computer and modem. | | | | the use of the internet. One other prominent anti virus |
| That same year, a University of Southern California | | | | venture during this time was the licensing agreement |
| Ph.D candidate named a computer program that | | | | of AVP technologies and F Secure Anti Virus. |
| affects other programs by changing itself or the host | | | | As a result several very well known providers of anti |
| program in some way as a "computer virus." | | | | virus software protection were developed and still |
| 1986 The beginning of modern day world wide | | | | exist today including: ALWIL Software avast!, AntiVir |
| infections by computer viruses. | | | | PersonalEdition Classic, AVG Professional, eTrust EZ |
| Examples include: Programmers in Pakistan releasing | | | | Armor Suite, F-Secure Anti-Virus,Kaspersky Anti-Virus, |
| the first personal computer virus, titled "The Brain." | | | | McAfee VirusScan, Norton AntiVirus, Panda Antivirus, |
| 1988 A worm designed by a 23 year old programmer | | | | and Trend PC-cillin. |
| invaded ARPANET (a division of the US Department | | | | With the development, growth and competition that this |
| of Defense) computers disabling 6000 of their | | | | many prominent antivirus software programs to |
| computers. | | | | choose from each of them have tried to develop |
| 1991 The release of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) a free | | | | special functions and features such as customization |
| data encryption tool. | | | | of scan controls, blocking, parental controls, and |
| 1991-2001 Many well known viruses were released | | | | advanced technology to make them stand out from |
| such as: "Melissa", which automatically and quickly sent | | | | the crowd. |
| replicas of it to email addresses contained in Microsoft | | | | In order to learn as much about viruses and to develop |
| Outlook;"I Love You" which sent copies of passwords | | | | the best possible antivirus protection software |
| and usernames stored on personal computers back to | | | | developers study computer viruses to look for |
| the Philippine designer of this program; The Anna | | | | patterns in programming to better able them to detect |
| Kournikova" virus; which was especially alarming to | | | | familiar programming patterns that are used in many |
| computer users and programmers alike as it was the | | | | computer viruses and threats including spyware. Those |
| beginning of the use of "toolkit" software that can | | | | antivirus software programs that are the most |
| assist just about anyone in creating a computer virus. | | | | effective are active in their information gathering |
| 2001 The Code Red worm (affecting systems using | | | | efforts and in catching threats before they hit your |
| Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 server | | | | computer, as well as providing updates for detecting |
| software); the "Nimda" virus, and The "Klez" worm | | | | viruses on a regular basis. It is important that the |
| which was designed to also disable many of the | | | | antivirus software program that you choose also |
| common anti virus software protection on the market | | | | includes protection from threats embedded in images |
| at that time were released. | | | | and email messages with all the communication we do |
| 2002 "Root" servers, which are used to provide | | | | via the internet and out computer. |
| Internet communication, were affected by a virus | | | | Consumers should carefully research the products |
| causing the need for more protection of the Internet | | | | available and choose the combination of services and |
| infrastructure. | | | | features that will be most beneficial to them and their |
| 2003 The "Slammer" worm caused damages to | | | | family. Computer programmers are among some of |
| businesses world wide. | | | | the most creative and innovative minds in the world. |
| 2004 The "MyDoom" worm was introduced a virus | | | | As such we may never find a "cure" for computer |
| that attempts to trick people to open email | | | | viruses, but maybe we can find just the right |
| attachments that contain the virus by making | | | | "medicine" in the form of an efficient, cost effective |
| statements in the message or re: form. | | | | and easy to operate antivirus software system to |
| Antivirus Software Development | | | | keep our personal computers and information safe. |
| Many companies and countries claim to have | | | | |