Secret World

Unmasking the Morris Worm: How the World’s First Buffer Overflow Attack Changed Cybersecurity Forever Buffer overflow a term that sends chills down the spines of cybersecurity experts today was first discovered as a vulnerability more than four decades ago. But how did this notorious security flaw come to light, and how was it exploited for the first time? To understand the significance of the world’s first buffer overflow attack, let’s dive into the history of computer security and how this vulnerability reshaped the way we approach software development and protection. What Is a Buffer Overflow? Before exploring the attack itself, it’s important to understand what a buffer overflow is. In computer programming, a buffer is a temporary memory storage area allocated to hold data. A buffer overflow occurs when more data is written to the buffer than it can handle, causing the excess data to overwrite adjacent memory. This can lead to unpredictable behavior, including the ability for a...

  The Rise and Fall of the Floppy Disk: A Journey Through Data Storage History The floppy disk, a revolutionary invention of its time, played a pivotal role in shaping the history of data storage. From its origins as a groundbreaking solution to its ultimate obsolescence, the floppy disk’s journey is a fascinating tale of innovation, evolution, and nostalgia. Let’s dive into the story of the floppy disk and its enduring legacy. The Birth of the Floppy Disk (1971) In 1971, IBM introduced the world to the first floppy disk , an 8-inch magnetic storage medium . It was initially designed to simplify loading microcode into IBM System/370 mainframe computers. The first floppy was a read-only device that could store 80 kilobytes (KB) of data—a remarkable feat at the time. Encased in a flexible magnetic-coated plastic disk and housed in a cardboard jacket, it was compact, portable, and revolutionary. In 1973 , IBM launched a writable version of the 8-inch floppy disk, enabling users ...