We've all faced security in one way or another, and most of us have at least a basic understanding of what it is. So before we dive into the details, let's go back in time - to the days of magnetic mice, bulky CRT monitors - when the sun seemed a little warmer and the world a little simpler.
Where It All Began
The history of cybersecurity is mostly a history of faults (please do not mix it up with bugs), vulnerabilities, and attempts to close them. Cybersecurity as a discipline emerged not because someone came up with “let's protect computers” in advance, but because they started breaking them.
1950s
Alright, let's imagine that our journey begins in the 1950s. Huge computers occupying entire rooms or even buildings, with unrealistic prices that ordinary users simply could not afford. These machines were used mainly by scientists and military men - for calculations, modeling and other serious tasks. Security was physical access control: if you weren't in the building, you couldn't access the data. To protect information, locks, badges, and guards were used, not software. There was no concept of “hackers,” viruses, or network attacks - simply because there were no networks. All programs were run manually or on a schedule. There was no OS in the usual view, no multi-user access, one computer - one person or group. Data was stored on punched cards, magnetic tapes and drums. No encryption. If you accessed the media, you got everything.
1960s
Let's go forward 10 years, the '60s. In the 1960s, the first full-fledged operating systems and the concept of multi-user mode began to be actively developed. Computers were becoming more and more powerful, and it made sense to share their resources among several users. Thus, the idea of time-sharing was born - temporarily dividing access to the processor, which was a turning point for cybersecurity. Along with this came the first passwords and initial access control mechanisms: each user had to log in somehow, isolate their processes and protect their data. It was during this period that the realization dawned that threats could come from other users on the same system. Developers started thinking about access control, user rights and isolation - and this became the foundation of future information security models.
In 1965, while working with the CTSS system (one of the first multi-user operating systems), a student at MIT encountered a time limit on machine access. To get around this limitation, he wrote a script that copied a system file containing the passwords of all users. CTSS stored this file in the clear, with no encryption or protection. By accessing other people's accounts, the student was able to log in under different names and gain more computing time.
This incident is considered the first recorded case of password cracking in history, and was one of the first calls for real data protection even in closed systems.
1970
In 1969, ARPANET, the world's first computer network, was launched and became the forerunner of the Internet. In the 1970s, it grew rapidly, connecting universities, military institutions and research centers. Initially, ARPANET was designed as an open environment for trusted users, so it had no built-in authentication, encryption or protection against intruders. As the network grew, the first incidents began to appear: unauthorized access, misuse of resources, and remote login attempts. These events sent an important signal: for the first time, security began to be seen as an integral part of network architecture. This decade marked the beginning of discussions on network ethics, user behavior, and technical protection of information in distributed systems.
In 1973, a user discovered that he could connect to a remote system via the ARPANET without authorization, exploiting a vulnerability in the network software. This case was the first recorded remote network intrusion, demonstrating that even among “trusted” participants, real security threats were possible. The incident led to a discussion of the need for systemic access control and the formation of the first network policies.
1980
In the 1980s, computers were no longer strictly scientific and military tools - the era of the personal PC had begun. With the introduction of the IBM PC, MS-DOS and Apple II, millions of people gained access to computing technology, and with it the first computer viruses began to spread. Most attacks occurred offline - via floppy disks carried from machine to machine. This period also saw the first anti-viruses, firewalls and access controls. Against this backdrop, new laws governing computer crime are formed, and hacker culture emerges from the shadows: groups, manifestos and the first high-profile arrests appear. Information security is becoming a necessity - not only for the military, but also for businesses and private users.
Brain is the first mass-market virus (1986)
Created by two brothers from Pakistan "for a good cause," the Brain virus infected the boot sector of floppy disks and spread around the world. It displayed the contact information of authors who did not expect a global epidemic.First worm on the Internet - Morris worm (1988)
Launched by student Robert Morris, this worm infected about 10% of all computers connected to the ARPANET due to a bug in the code. This was the first mass network infection, leading to the creation of CERT, the first computer incident response team.Hacker Culture and Manifesto (1986)
After a hacker was arrested under the pseudonym The Mentor, he wrote a "Hacker Manifesto" in which he advocated the ideas of freedom of information and curiosity. The document became a symbol of hacker ethics and is still quoted in subcultures today.
1990s
In the 1990s, the Internet expanded beyond the academic and military environments and became available to the general public. At the same time, new attack vectors emerge: through e-mail, Web sites, and network services. Malware, macro viruses, and social engineering are spreading. For the first time, users are facing massive phishing attacks, viruses in office documents, and Trojans disguised as useful software. In response, an entire ecosystem of defense solutions emerges: antiviruses, firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS). Large companies begin to build their first information security strategies. At the same time, the first international cybercrime laws are formed, and hacker groups enter the global arena.
My favorite story is the one about NASA. I don't know a single person who hasn't heard of NASA. But if you haven't, NASA is the U.S. government agency responsible for the civilian space program and aerospace research.
So what happened there?In 1999, a 15-year-old teenager from California gained access to NASA and Pentagon systems using the simplest method - automated password guessing. Most accounts had passwords like "password", "1234", or even had no password at all.
NASA had to shut down its spacecraft control systems for 21 days, and the damage was estimated at $1.7 million.
The hacker was arrested, but the case went down in history as a textbook example of cybersecurity negligence.
This brings us to the end of the review of the key moments that led to the emergence of a new discipline: cybersecurity. As we can see, it did not develop as a carefully planned endeavor, but rather as a reaction to human error, short-sightedness, and the unforeseen consequences of our own creations. Of course, the story doesn’t end here - many fascinating events have unfolded since then, leading us to where we are today. Yet, that is a story for another time.
I never thought this article would make you an expert in cybersecurity, and I didn't expect it to be interesting to everyone (After all, why read about something that has already happened?). But, in my opinion, there are a few lessons worth remembering here:
- You don't have to solve all problems yourself; sometimes it's enough just to read about them.
- You can never be completely sure that you've considered everything.
- And finally, just because something does not exist yet does not mean that it cannot appear in the future.
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