News The first-ever ransomware dropped 35 years ago disguised as a floppy sharing 'AIDS Information

[Admin]

The first-ever example of ransomware dropped 35 years ago, in December 1989.

The first-ever ransomware dropped 35 years ago disguised as a floppy sharing 'AIDS Information : Read more

 

[Alvar "Miles" Udell]

Encrypted file names are a bit more damaging if every file were renamed to KdArDj~1.doc in the age of command prompt.

 

[acadia11]

Maybe I missed what was the fee? And I’m sure this attack and bit of social engineering would still work!

 

[Alvar "Miles" Udell]

Maybe I missed what was the fee? And I’m sure this attack and bit of social engineering would still work!

The First Ransomware Attack: Lessons Learned from History

What was the AIDS Trojan, and why is it called history's first-ever ransomware attack?

ransomware.org

$189.

 

[sinteger]

This was an experiment in the fallacy of man. The material that was sent to each recipient told you almost explicitly what was about to happen:

"First, read and assent to the limited warranty and to the license agreement on the reverse. [If you USE this diskette, you will have to pay the mandatory software leasing fee(s).]"

The "limited warranty and license agreement on the reverse" then tells you that you do not own the software, it is licensed, at a cost of (a) $189 for 365 user applications (some said this was a year but that isn't the case) or (b) $378 for the "lifetime of your harddrive, or 60 years, whichever is lesser."

"If you install these programs on a microcomputer (by the Install program or by the share program option or by any other means), then under the terms of this license you thereby agree to pay PC Cyborg Corporation in full for the cost of leasing these programs. In the case of your breach of this license agreement, PC Cyborg Corporation reserves the right to take any legal action necessary to recover any outstanding debts payable to PC Cyborg Corporation and to use program mechanisms to ensure termination of your use of the programs. These program mechanisms will adversely affect other program applications on microcomputers. You are hereby advised of the most serious consequences of your failure to abide by the terms of the license agreement: your conscience may haunt you for the rest of your life; you will owe compensation and possible damages to PC Cyborg Corporation; and your microcomputer will stop functioning normally. Warning: Do not use these programs with others, unless the programs are accompanied by all program documentation including this license agreement, you fully inform the recipient of the terms of this agreement, and the recipient assents to the terms of the agreement, including the mandatory payments to PC Cyborg Corporation."

 

[acadia11]

This was an experiment in the fallacy of man. The material that was sent to each recipient told you almost explicitly what was about to happen:

"First, read and assent to the limited warranty and to the license agreement on the reverse. [If you USE this diskette, you will have to pay the mandatory software leasing fee(s).]"

The "limited warranty and license agreement on the reverse" then tells you that you do not own the software, it is licensed, at a cost of (a) $189 for 365 user applications (some said this was a year but that isn't the case) or (b) $378 for the "lifetime of your harddrive, or 60 years, whichever is lesser."

"If you install these programs on a microcomputer (by the Install program or by the share program option or by any other means), then under the terms of this license you thereby agree to pay PC Cyborg Corporation in full for the cost of leasing these programs. In the case of your breach of this license agreement, PC Cyborg Corporation reserves the right to take any legal action necessary to recover any outstanding debts payable to PC Cyborg Corporation and to use program mechanisms to ensure termination of your use of the programs. These program mechanisms will adversely affect other program applications on microcomputers. You are hereby advised of the most serious consequences of your failure to abide by the terms of the license agreement: your conscience may haunt you for the rest of your life; you will owe compensation and possible damages to PC Cyborg Corporation; and your microcomputer will stop functioning normally. Warning: Do not use these programs with others, unless the programs are accompanied by all program documentation including this license agreement, you fully inform the recipient of the terms of this agreement, and the recipient assents to the terms of the agreement, including the mandatory payments to PC Cyborg Corporation."

And that my friend was the beginning of the Apple EULA, the Facebook EuLa, windows EULA … oh I see the pattern …

 

[derekullo]

So ransomware is just software without a EULA.
Never thought of it that way lol

"His obviously did as a half joke but modern ransomware ones ... don't!"