The Worm

["Michael McGeachie" <mmcgeach@>]

On November 2, 1988, during the final week of the Bush-Dukakis presidential
contest, the most virulent virus ever to hit the computer world made its
debut on planet Earth.  In less time than it takes the sun to travel from
horizon to horizon, the Internet virus wormed its way at blistering speeds
into the memories of over six thousand computers scattered nationwide.

An explorer ship designed to probe the vast Internet labyrinth full of juicy
academic and military data, the artificial creature never reached its full
potential falling ill to a bug in its programming near the beginning of its
journey.  We begin our story with its launch into the Internet cyberspace:

The time was 9pm at the MIT artificial intelligence laboratory in Cambridge
Massachusetts.  Acting on a remote signal originating from Ithaca, New York,
the gleaming new version 1.0 probe was launched from its hard disk "holding
pen" into a telephone line.

Its destination: the Internet.

Its purpose" widespread exploration and infection of the labyrinth without
detection.

Its design: streamlined, equipped with several penetration devices
especially designed for bypassing Internet security barriers.

As the virus entered Internet cyberspace for the first time, it easily
passed the entry tests of the Internet boundary guards, showing them the
electronic equivalent of an "Internet technician" pass.  The pass basically
said, "this user hsas official permission to work on our Sendmail electronic
mail system and out UNIX Finger Daemon program.  He has high-priority
access."

If the pass hadn't worked, the probe would have flashed to the electronic
guards thousands of possible password IDs with a good probability that one
of them would have gained entry.

...

GSB is proud to bring you this flashback tale of terror and mayhem!  We are
also proud to include an image of the first Cro-Magnon computer virus, at
http://beijing.csail.mit.edu/images/firstvirus.jpg .  Parents are strongly
cautioned that this image may be shocking, terrifying, and unsuitable for
younger viewers.  And if that isn't enough to get you to attend this week's
...



            +-                                                  -+
              girl scout benefit -+-  5:30 pm  -+- 32-G9 lounge
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               For those coming from elsewhere: Building 32 is
                <http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?selection=32>


... A free beverage to the person correctly identifying the most information
about the above quote, such as 1) author, 2) title, 3) publication date, 4)
name of the virus mentioned, 5) author of the virus mentioned, 6) etc.