Hackers and Computer Security

The Internet Worm written by Robert Morris in 1988 was a self-replicating program that spread from one machine to another. When Morris realized how much internet security havoc his worm was wreaking, he tried to send anonymous messages on how to disinfect the beast over the same network on which he unleashed the worm. Unfortunately, machines were so catatonic that the remedy never went anywhere. The Internet Worm attracted a great deal of media attention and Morris was eventually sentenced to three years of probation and 400 hours of community service, and fined $10,050. By the way, Morris was the son of the chief scientist at the National Security Center -- part of the NSA.