The Origin of Malware

Malware has evolved from being a tool used by hobbyist programmers to make their mark in the early days to becoming a serious business in the modern era. In the past, viruses and worms were created as a way to promote one's skills and gain notoriety within the hacking community. However, with the rise of the internet, malware became a means of spreading globally and causing significant harm. The focus shifted from simple pranks and jokes to more malicious activities like stealing data, extorting money through ransomware, and even nation-state cyber-attacks.