floppy disk

On January 19, 1986, the computer virus Brain emerged, recognized as the first major global threat in cybersecurity. Created by Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi in Lahore, Pakistan, it targeted IBM PC-compatible machines running MS-DOS and spread via floppy disks. Brain was initially intended to protect the brothers' medical software from piracy by tracking unauthorized copies. It embedded itself in the boot sector of infected computers and displayed a message with the creators' contact information. Despite its benign intent, Brain spread internationally, highlighting the potential for software to replicate and traverse borders autonomously. This event raised awareness about computer viruses and initiated discussions on antivirus solutions and the ethical responsibilities of programmers. Brain exposed vulnerabilities in early personal computers and prompted the integration of cybersecurity considerations into software design.