Computer Archeology: Exploring the Anatomy of an MS-DOS Virus

The article recounts an encounter between the author and two former computer enthusiasts at a convention, leading to an exploration of their experiences in creating an MS-DOS virus in the early 1990s. The individuals, who developed their skills in a small German town with limited access to computing resources, were motivated by curiosity and a desire to emulate well-known virus creators. They successfully created a proof of concept for a virus named PARANOID, which was designed to infect executable files and spread through floppy disks, a common method of data transfer at the time. Despite its potential for harm, the virus was released in a benign form, primarily to demonstrate their capabilities without causing damage.

The article highlights the challenges of recovering the virus's source code due to "bit rot" on old storage devices and the need for vintage hardware to access it. The author reflects on how the programming techniques used by the creators, developed in isolation, parallel modern practices. The narrative emphasizes the historical context of computing in the 1990s, including the lack of internet access and reliance on analog resources for learning. Ultimately, the story serves as a nostalgic look back at early computer culture and the motivations behind creating malware, framed within the broader evolution of programming and technology.