In today’s digital context, talking about virus computer immediately conjures up images of destructive malware and invasions of privacy.
However, there was a time when this notion was far from reality.
This is the case of Elk Clonerthe virus that started as an innocent joke and ended up becoming a milestone in the history of malicious software.
What was the Elk Cloner?
Elk Cloner: the innocent beginning of computer viruses – Image: Wikipedia/Reproduction
Elk Cloner was developed in 1982 by a high school student named Rich Skrenta. It infected computers Apple II — widely used at the time — through a floppy disk replication mechanism.
Skrenta, known among his friends for his small pranks and games, created the Elk Cloner as a simple prank, with no intention of causing real harm.
How did this virus spread?
The virus’s method of infection was rudimentary but effective. Initially, the virus installed itself in the system’s memory and hid itself on 5.25-inch floppy disks.
Each computer that booted with an infected floppy disk automatically copied the virus, spreading it without the user noticing.
Once inserted into 50 different disks, the virus would ‘wake up’ and display a poem on the screen, revealing its presence in a harmless but frightening way.
What was Elk Cloner’s message?
After 50 uses of the floppy disk, the computer screen displayed the following poem created by Skrenta:
“Elk Cloner: the program with personality; It will be present on all your albums; It will infiltrate your chips. Yes, it’s the Cloner! It will stick to you like glue; It will modify your RAM as well; Send the Cloner!”
This poem, although playful, marked the reality of the infection and served as an early awakening to the dangers of self-replicating software.
Impact and legacy of the Elk Cloner
Elk Cloner has sparked reflection in the technology industry about the need for antivirus software and safe computing practices.
Skrenta, many years later, expressed on his personal blog, now inactive, his regret for the joke that, according to him, sparked a worldwide fascination with computer viruses.
Elk Cloner did not cause damage to system files, but it opened the door for more malicious viruses to exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems.
The story of Skrenta and the Elk Cloner serves as a reminder that in the world of technology, even an innocent prank can have unexpected and lasting consequences.
The evolution of malware
Since the emergence of Elk Cloner, the malware landscape has evolved dramatically, with viruses that can cause irreparable harm to individuals and organizations.
This evolution highlights the importance of cybersecurity as one of the main concerns in today’s connected world.
