What is Creeper Virus?
The Creeper virus is often cited as one of the first computer viruses ever created. It was developed in the early 1970s by Bob Thomas at BBN Technologies. Creeper was an experimental self-replicating program that was designed to test the limits of computer networks at the time. It was not malicious in intent; instead, it demonstrated the possibility of a mobile application that could move across networks.
Operating on the ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet, the Creeper virus would move from one DEC PDP-10 computer to another. It was relatively benign, displaying the message “I’M THE CREEPER: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN” on the terminals it infected. This experiment led to the creation of the Reaper program, which was designed to delete Creeper.
The Creeper and Reaper programs were important early examples of self-replicating programs and what would become antivirus technology, respectively. They helped lay the foundation for more sophisticated discussions and developments in network security and the management of distributed software.
How the Creeper Virus Worked?
The Creeper virus was a pioneering piece of software that demonstrated the potential for programs to move across networked computers autonomously. Here’s a breakdown of how it functioned:
Propagation: Unlike modern viruses, Creeper did not infect files or corrupt data. Instead, it replicated itself across the ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), the early form of the internet. It would seek out a remote machine running the TENEX operating system, typically used on DEC PDP-10 computers.
Movement: Once it located a suitable machine, Creeper would transfer itself to that system via the network. The original program would then terminate on the source computer, effectively moving from one system to another, rather than making multiple copies of itself across the network. This behavior is more akin to a computer worm rather than a virus by today’s definitions.
Display Message: Upon successful replication and execution on a target machine, Creeper would display the message: “I’M THE CREEPER: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN” on the terminal. This benign activity was primarily designed to demonstrate the program’s capability to move and function across the network.
Self-Replicating Nature: Creeper was one of the first programs to demonstrate the ability to autonomously navigate and operate across a network. This self-replicating nature was groundbreaking at the time and opened the door to the concept of mobile code in computing.
Countermeasure – The Reaper: In response to Creeper, a program called Reaper was created. Reaper’s purpose was to delete Creeper. It would move across the network in a similar manner, seeking out and removing instances of the Creeper virus. This interaction between Creeper and Reaper is one of the earliest examples of what would evolve into antivirus software.
The Creeper virus, though not harmful, was a significant experiment that helped computer scientists understand and develop strategies for dealing with the security implications of interconnected system