The history of antivirus software is a saga that spans from experimental pranks to multi-billion dollar industries and high-stakes international intrigue.
: Real-world cases show the value of these tools; for example, Powertech Antivirus once discovered a ransomware file that had laid dormant for years, preventing a repeat of a devastating 2017 attack [13]. Antivirus
In the early 1970s, the world's first "virus," known as Creeper , began jumping between computers on the ARPANET (the internet's precursor). It was harmless, merely displaying the message: "I'm the creeper: catch me if you can." In response, a programmer named Bob Thomas (or potentially Ray Tomlinson) created Reaper, the first antivirus, designed solely to hunt down and delete Creeper [17]. The history of antivirus software is a saga
: Today, operating systems have their own defenses, like Microsoft Defender and Apple’s XProtect, which are now often considered sufficient for average users without needing extra paid software [5.1]. It was harmless, merely displaying the message: "I'm
As the internet expanded, threats evolved from simple files to complex web-based attacks.