Multiple choice technology security

What was the first detected virus in the history of viruses?

  1. Rother J

  2. Creeper

  3. Wabbit virus

  4. Elk Cloner
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Creeper (1971) is widely recognized as the first computer virus/worm, running on ARPANET PDP-10 systems and displaying 'I'm the creeper, catch me if you can!'. While Rother J (a 1971 Apple II virus) is sometimes called first, Creeper predates it. Wabbit and Elk Cloner came later.

AI explanation

Creeper, written by Bob Thomas in 1971 for BBN's TENEX operating system on ARPANET-connected DEC PDP-10 computers, is widely credited as the first self-replicating program/virus in computing history (displaying the message 'I'M THE CREEPER: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN'). It predates Elk Cloner (1982, first PC/Apple II virus to spread widely in the wild) and the Wabbit virus (an earlier fork-bomb-style program, sometimes debated but generally not classified as the 'first' detected virus in standard histories). 'Rother J' is not a standard entry in virus history and appears to be a distractor. Creeper is the standard textbook answer.

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