The Worm

Eugene Spafford, a pioneering figure in cybersecurity, reflects on the chaos of the 1988 Morris Worm, the first major computer worm that caused panic and disruption across networks, including military systems. He discusses the unique aspects of worms versus viruses and the historical lessons learned from the incident. The talk highlights the ethical dilemmas surrounding the worm's creation and the lasting need for improved cybersecurity measures. Spafford also addresses how today's vulnerabilities still echo the challenges faced decades ago.