From Handwiki | Type | Computer worm[1] |
|---|---|
| Isolation | 1971 |
| Author(s) | Bob Thomas |
| Operating system(s) affected | TENEX |
Creeper was an experimental computer program written by Bob Thomas at BBN in 1971.[2] Its original iteration was designed to move between DEC PDP-10 mainframe computers running the TENEX operating system using the ARPANET, with a later version by Ray Tomlinson designed to copy itself between computers rather than simply move.[3] This self-replicating version of Creeper is generally accepted to be the first computer worm.[1][4]
The program was not actively malicious software as it caused no damage to data, the only effect being a message it output to the teletype reading "I'M THE CREEPER; CATCH ME IF YOU CAN".[4]
| Original author(s) | Ray Tomlinson |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1972 |
| Operating system | TENEX |
Reaper was a similar program created by Ray Tomlinson to move across the ARPANET and delete the self-replicating Creeper.[3]
The conflict between Creeper and Reaper served as inspiration for the programming game Core War,[3] while fictionalized versions of Reaper have been used as antagonists in the anime Digimon Tamers[5] and the visual novel Digital.[6] A humanized Creeper has also appeared in the webcomic Internet Explorer, alongside the likewise personified Morris Worm.[7]
Categories: [Computer viruses]
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