Creeper virus
(also computer worm)
Creeper virus definition
The Creeper virus was a worm, which is the type of virus that spreads itself by replicating and hopping from one device to another. The target of this specific virus was Digital Equipment Corporation computers. Interestingly, this virus didn’t “act” like other computer viruses. It didn’t destroy or steal data or encrypt files. Instead, it shared its mysterious message, “I’m the creeper, catch me if you can!“ on infected computers and copied itself to other computers on the network using the ARPANET file transfer protocol (FTP). The Creeper virus is no longer a threat to modern systems, but it’s an important milestone in computer security.
The importance of the Creeper virus
Creeper was one of the first computer viruses in the early 1970s. Its creator, Bob Thomas, worked on the ARPANET, the early precursor to the internet. He wanted to create a program that could duplicate itself to prove it was possible. This experimental program tested the feasibility of computer viruses and demonstrated their potential to spread across networks and cause havoc. The Creeper virus was one of the first self-replicating programs that could spread across a network. It further led to the development of antivirus software and other security measures to protect against future virus attacks.