THE ‘MORRIS WORM’
WHEN: NOVEMBER 1988 WHERE: MASSACHUSETTS, USA
In November 1988, the online world faced an unprecedented threat. A computer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) became the launchpad for a cyber worm, later called the ‘Morris Worm', that quickly began to spread on the Internet and crippled computer networks, which were becoming a vital system for many businesses in the United States and Europe at that time. This worm, a selfreplicating program, didn't need a host to spread; it leapt from computer to computer.
It was considered the first computer worm on the Internet. And in just a day after it was unleashed, an estimated 6,000 computers were hit. This was a significant blow, given only about 60,000 computers were online at the time. Prestigious universities and top research centres felt the sting. The worm targeted systems running a specific Unix version, exploiting weaknesses with cunning precision. It didn't delete files, but it slowed vital operations to a crawl and jammed email services for days.
The worm's creator was Robert Tappan Morris, a young genius from Cornell University. Morris had unleashed the worm as an experiment, not anticipating the chaos it would cause. As the digital community scrambled for solutions, Morris's identity quickly surfaced, thanks to a friend's anonymous tip to The New York Times.
Morris became the first person convicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986. Avoiding jail, he faced a fine, probation, and community service. This event marked a turning point, highlighting the Internet's vulnerabilities and the need for robust cybersecurity measures. In response, the first computer emergency response team was formed, setting the stage for future defences against digital threats.