Who invented it virus?

There's no single "inventor" of the virus, as the concept evolved, but John von Neumann first theorized self-replicating programs (late 1940s), Bob Thomas created the first known self-replicating program "Creeper" (1971), and Fred Cohen coined the term "computer virus" (1983). Early examples like "Creeper" were experiments, while the "Brain" virus (1986) by the Alvi brothers was one of the first for PCs, intended to protect software.

Who created the first virus?

The first computer virus, Creeper, was created in 1971 by Bob Thomas at BBN Technologies as a harmless, self-replicating experimental program that moved across the ARPANET, displaying "I'm the creeper, catch me if you can!". While theoretical concepts existed earlier (John von Neumann), Thomas's Creeper is recognized as the first practical implementation of a self-propagating program, paving the way for modern malware.
 

Who discovered viruses first?

Russian botanist Dmitri Ivanovsky is credited with discovering the first virus in 1892, showing that sap from tobacco plants with mosaic disease could still infect healthy plants even after passing through filters that trapped bacteria, leading him to identify a new, submicroscopic "filterable agent". Dutch microbiologist Martinus Beijerinck later confirmed these findings and proposed it was a "contagious living fluid" (contagium vivum fluidum), establishing the concept of viruses as distinct from bacteria.
 

How did viruses first start?

Scientists don't have one single answer, but the leading theories suggest viruses likely emerged in multiple ways: as escaped cellular bits (Progressive Hypothesis), as devolved complex parasites (Regressive Hypothesis), or as ancient, pre-cellular entities (Virus-First Hypothesis), with many likely arising independently, possibly predating the first cells and shaping their evolution. They're incredibly diverse, existing as ancient genetic material that jumped between hosts, evolving alongside life itself.
 

How did computer viruses start?

The first computer virus, called "Creeper system", was an experimental self-replicating virus released in 1971. It was filling up the hard drive until a computer could not operate any further. This virus was created by BBN technologies in the US. The first computer virus for MS-DOS was "Brain" and was released in 1986.

Where Did Viruses Come From?

Why do viruses exist?

Viruses exist as ancient, parasitic replicators that drive evolution by transferring genes, shaping ecosystems, and influencing host biology, likely originating from escaping cellular DNA or ancient genetic material, playing crucial roles in maintaining life's balance, despite often being seen as harmful agents of disease. They aren't "designed" but persist through natural selection, exploiting cells for replication and driving an ongoing evolutionary arms race with hosts, contributing significantly to genetic diversity.
 

What was the first virus in the world?

The first identified virus was the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), discovered by Dmitri Ivanovsky in 1892 and named by Martinus Beijerinck in 1898, revealing that infectious agents smaller than bacteria could cause disease in plants, though the first human virus (Yellow Fever) came later in 1901, and the first computer virus ("Creeper") emerged in 1971. 

Are we 8% virus?

At least 8% of the human genome is genetic material from viruses. It was considered 'junk DNA' until recently, but its role in human development is now known to be essential.

Could life exist without viruses?

But in fact, viruses play numerous crucial biological roles at multiple scales, from individual cells to entire ecosystems. Without viruses, life on Earth would be very different, or perhaps there would be no life at all.

How do people create viruses?

Virus writers use social engineering deceptions and exploit detailed knowledge of security vulnerabilities to initially infect systems and to spread the virus. Viruses use complex anti-detection/stealth strategies to evade antivirus software.

What does the word "virus" mean?

It specifically referred to the poisonous sap of certain plants, which explains why it sounds similar to viscous, a word meaning "sticky." Nowadays, it's used to describe something that causes infectious diseases, specifically a tiny, self-replicating agent made up of genetic material and protein.

Who gave the virus its name?

The name virus was coined by Martinus Willem Beijerinck. 3. He used the extraction of infected plants and concluded that the extraction can infect the healthy plant. 4.

What is the oldest virus in the world?

The oldest virus revived by scientists is a Pandoravirus yedoma, resurrected from Siberian permafrost and estimated to be around 48,500 years old, setting a record for the oldest viable virus brought back to life, though it only infects amoebas, not humans. These "zombie viruses," dormant for millennia, highlight risks as warming permafrost releases ancient microbes, with older viruses potentially existing but difficult to date.
 

What virus almost destroyed the Internet?

Morris worm. The Morris worm or Internet worm of November 2, 1988, is one of the oldest computer worms distributed via the Internet, and the first to gain significant mainstream media attention. It resulted in the first felony conviction in the US under the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Who creates viruses?

Computer viruses are created by a diverse range of individuals, from organized cybercriminals seeking financial gain (ransomware, theft) or espionage, to hacktivists, state-sponsored actors, curiosity-driven individuals, and even younger, inexperienced "script kiddies" looking for notoriety, all using programming skills and exploiting system vulnerabilities for various malicious or even experimental purposes. Motives vary widely, including money, data theft, disruption, political statements, revenge, or simply the challenge of exploring system security.
 

When did we first see a virus?

The first virus, the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), was discovered in 1892 by Russian scientist Dmitri Ivanovsky, who showed it passed through filters that blocked bacteria; Dutch scientist Martinus Beijerinck confirmed it in 1898, calling it a "contagious living fluid". This plant virus discovery marked the beginning of virology, leading to later discoveries like the first animal virus (foot-and-mouth disease, 1898) and the first human virus (yellow fever, 1901).
 

What kills a virus fast?

Antiviral drugs, if given within 2 days after the onset of the symptoms, will prevent the infection and replication of viruses. Some of the four FDA-approved antiviral drugs include: Oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) Zanamivir (Relenza)

What is the largest known virus?

Discovery of the Giant Mimivirus. Mimivirus is the largest and most complex virus known. Is it an evolutionary bridge between nonliving viruses and living organisms, or is it just an anomaly? Viruses are small and fairly simple.

Why does sickness exist?

Sickness exists due to a combination of factors, including our bodies' evolutionary mismatches with modern environments (like pollution or poor diet), faster-evolving pathogens (viruses, bacteria) exploiting weaknesses, genetic predispositions, harmful environmental exposures, and even our own behaviors, all leading to disruptions in normal biological functions or interactions with disease-causing agents. Essentially, it's the result of imperfect biology and external pressures, making life's complex systems vulnerable to breakdown or invasion. 

How much human DNA is a virus?

About 8% of the human genome consists of viral DNA sequences, specifically remnants of ancient retroviruses called Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) that infected our ancestors millions of years ago and integrated their genetic material into our own. These viral fossils aren't just "junk DNA"; they've been repurposed and play roles in human development, immunity, and disease, with some sources also noting that another large portion (around 40%) of our DNA comes from viral-like mobile elements. 

What is the deadliest virus in history?

While it's hard to name one single deadliest virus due to varying historical records, Smallpox stands out as one of the most devastating viral killers in history, responsible for millions of deaths over centuries with up to 30% fatality and high rates of blindness, eventually eradicated through vaccination. Other contenders include viruses causing severe pandemics like Influenza (e.g., 1918 Spanish Flu) and modern threats like HIV/AIDS, but Smallpox's long reign and eventual eradication make it a top contender for historical deadliest virus. 

What does it mean to say humans are 50% bananas and 98% chimpanzee?

Here is the percentage of genes in common between humans and other species (OMA method) We have 98% of genes in common with the chimpanzee, 94% of genes in common with the mouse, 72% of genes in common with the zebrafish …. And thus about 25% of genes in common with the banana (OMA method).

Which virus has no DNA?

Retrovirus: A Virus that forms due to RNA but not DNA.

What was the brain virus?

The "Brain virus" was the first PC virus, released in 1986 by Pakistani brothers Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi, designed to track illegal copies of their medical software. It infected floppy disks by replacing the boot sector, displaying a message with their contact info for "vaccination," but it didn't destroy data, instead slowing floppy drives and marking sectors as bad, unintentionally starting the first PC virus epidemic.
 

When was the word "virus" first used?

A meaning of 'agent that causes infectious disease' is first recorded in 1728, long before the discovery of viruses by Dmitri Ivanovsky in 1892. The English plural is viruses (sometimes also vira), whereas the Latin word is a mass noun, which has no classically attested plural (vīra is used in Neo-Latin).