Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/NostalgiaNerd - Enter promo code NostalgiaNerd for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE. Thanks to Surfshark for sponsoring ~ Malware, computer viruses and computer worms are rife. They're so rife that antivirus software is now standard on Windows operating systems, and we're routinely advised to upgrade to something more "secure". But the origin of the computer virus, of computer worms may surprise you, because it wasn't actually from a malevolent desire at all. It was in fact born out of intrigue and the desire to actually help productivity, rather than destroy it. In this episode I'm exploring the Creeper Worm; created by Bob Thomas and Ray Tomlinson back in the 70s. But alongside Creeper, I'm also looking at Reaper, and a slew of other computer worms that were created by Xerox in the early 80s. Because without Creeper, Reaper and Xerox, our computing landscape would look very different today.
⌚️Timeline⌚️
0:00-02:04 Introduction to Computer Viruses
02:04-03:17 Surfshark
03:17-04:23 CoreWar
04:23-06:37 ARPANET
06:37-09:20 Creeper
09:20-12:30 Reaper
12:30-15:29 Worm Origins
15:29-17:10 Xerox Problems
17:10-18:58 Viruses Everywhere
18:58-20:50 Closing
20:50-21:50 Credits
🔗Video Links🔗
CoreWar: youtube.com/watch?v=HxFYva9lNzU
Ray Tomlinson: youtube.com/watch?v=XhXk3wzemR4
Teletype printout: https://isc.sans.edu/diary/rss/27208
🏆 Support 🏆
Support my channel, get exclusive videos & perks, as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at patreon.com/nostalgianerd from just $1
🏪 NN Shop & Affiliate Links! 🏪
My eBay Shop: nnerd.es/NerdShop (Now Re-open!)
My Retro Tech book: nnerd.me/HVFtSB (2nd edition is out!)
Desk Shelves for Retro Computers: nnerd.me/RetroShelves (Because you're worth it)
🍻 Share/Like 🍻
If you wish to share this video in forums, social media, on your website, or ANYWHERE else, please do so! It helps tremendously with the channel! Also, giving a thumb up or down also helps with visibility on Youtube. Many thanks!
📟 Subcribe 📟
Click to Subscribe: nnerd.es/2K4TYvX
📱 Join me on Social Media 📱
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🎥 Equipment 🎥
Panasonic Lumix G5
Rode NT-1 Mic
Corel Video Studio Ultimate 2020
Corel Paint Shop Pro 2020
📜 Resources 📜
In video links and references are provided where possible. If you believe I have forgotten to attribute anything, please let me know (drop me an email via. the about page on Youtube or send me a tweet), so I can add it here. Apologies if I have missed anything out, it takes time to make these videos and therefore it can be easy to forget things or make a mistake.
Errors and omissions excepted.
Some material in this video may be used under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. Where under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 (UK: Sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988), allowance is made for purposes including parody, quotation, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, education and research. Fair Dealing / Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/NostalgiaNerd - Enter promo code NostalgiaNerd for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE. Thanks to Surfshark for sponsoring ~ Malware, computer viruses and computer worms are rife. They're so rife that antivirus software is now standard on Windows operating systems, and we're routinely advised to upgrade to something more "secure". But the origin of the computer virus, of computer worms may surprise you, because it wasn't actually from a malevolent desire at all. It was in fact born out of intrigue and the desire to actually help productivity, rather than destroy it. In this episode I'm exploring the Creeper Worm; created by Bob Thomas and Ray Tomlinson back in the 70s. But alongside Creeper, I'm also looking at Reaper, and a slew of other computer worms that were created by Xerox in the early 80s. Because without Creeper, Reaper and Xerox, our computing landscape would look very different today.
⌚️Timeline⌚️
0:00-02:04 Introduction to Computer Viruses
02:04-03:17 Surfshark
03:17-04:23 CoreWar
04:23-06:37 ARPANET
06:37-09:20 Creeper
09:20-12:30 Reaper
12:30-15:29 Worm Origins
15:29-17:10 Xerox Problems
17:10-18:58 Viruses Everywhere
18:58-20:50 Closing
20:50-21:50 Credits
🔗Video Links🔗
CoreWar: youtube.com/watch?v=HxFYva9lNzU
Ray Tomlinson: youtube.com/watch?v=XhXk3wzemR4
Teletype printout: https://isc.sans.edu/diary/rss/27208
🏆 Support 🏆
Support my channel, get exclusive videos & perks, as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at patreon.com/nostalgianerd from just $1
🏪 NN Shop & Affiliate Links! 🏪
My eBay Shop: nnerd.es/NerdShop (Now Re-open!)
My Retro Tech book: nnerd.me/HVFtSB (2nd edition is out!)
Desk Shelves for Retro Computers: nnerd.me/RetroShelves (Because you're worth it)
🍻 Share/Like 🍻
If you wish to share this video in forums, social media, on your website, or ANYWHERE else, please do so! It helps tremendously with the channel! Also, giving a thumb up or down also helps with visibility on Youtube. Many thanks!
📟 Subcribe 📟
Click to Subscribe: nnerd.es/2K4TYvX
📱 Join me on Social Media 📱
🐥 twitter.com/nostalnerd
🎮 twitch.tv/nostalgianerd
👱🏼📘 facebook.com/nostalnerd
📸 instagram.com/nostalgianerd
🌍 nostalgianerd.com
🎥 Equipment 🎥
Panasonic Lumix G5
Rode NT-1 Mic
Corel Video Studio Ultimate 2020
Corel Paint Shop Pro 2020
📜 Resources 📜
In video links and references are provided where possible. If you believe I have forgotten to attribute anything, please let me know (drop me an email via. the about page on Youtube or send me a tweet), so I can add it here. Apologies if I have missed anything out, it takes time to make these videos and therefore it can be easy to forget things or make a mistake.
Errors and omissions excepted.
Some material in this video may be used under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. Where under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 (UK: Sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988), allowance is made for purposes including parody, quotation, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, education and research. Fair Dealing / Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
