Happy99 computer worm | Happy New Year 1999! | Techday, January 20th
On this TECHDAY in history, on January 20th 1999, Happy99 (also known as Ska or I-Worm), a computer worm for Microsoft Windows, appeared. It spread through email and usenet. When executed, animated fireworks and a “Happy New Year” message displayed. The worm installed itself and ran in the background of a victim’s machine, without them knowing. It is generally considered the first virus to spread rapidly by email, and has served as a template for the creation of other self-propagating viruses (ExploreZip).
The so called first modern worm, spread so fast and so widely that the infection covered an intercontinental area of North America, Europe, even Asia! Breaking every record, during the first months of spreading, reports would reach hundreds, even thousands. Naturally, the Happy99 attained top position for the most reported viruses in Europe for 2000.
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Author: PC-GR
The World of Technology
