MODERN AGE CYBERSECURITY
Cybersecurity is essential for protecting digital assets, sensitive information, and the stability of individuals, businesses, and national security. It prevents unauthorized access, misuse, and damage to systems and data. Strong cybersecurity safeguards personal, financial, and health information, builds customer trust, ensures business continuity, and helps prevent financial losses from cyberattacks. It also protects government, military, and critical infrastructure networks against cyber threats that could disrupt society. Compliance with data protection laws and industry standards requires robust security measures, while effective cybersecurity defends against malware, phishing, and unauthorized access, preserving the integrity and functionality of systems. In 2025, cybersecurity is a critical component of society. Let’s take a look at how it all began.
THE EARLY YEARS
The first cyberattack is believed to have occurred in France in 1834 when two thieves hacked the French Telegraph System to steal financial market information. Over the years, other hackers emerged to disrupt phone service and wireless telegraphy, but things escalated in 1940 with René Carmille, considered the first ethical hacker. A punch-card computer expert and member of the French Resistance, Carmille discovered that the Nazis were using his machines to track Jews; he offered access to his systems, then secretly hacked and disrupted their efforts. In 1962, MIT introduced the first computer passwords to limit student access, but Allan Scherr, an MIT student, created a punch card to print all the passwords, using them to gain extra computer time and prank his teachers. The first computer virus appeared in 1969 at the University of Washington Computer Center, where an unknown individual installed what became known as the “RABBITS Virus,” a self-replicating program that overwhelmed and crashed the computer.
THE FIRST CYBERCRIMINAL
Kevin Mitnick is often hailed as the world’s first infamous cybercriminal, a modern outlaw who exposed just how vulnerable even the most secure systems could be. From 1970 to 1995, he launched a relentless spree of hacking, infiltrating top corporations like Motorola, Nokia, IBM, and even government networks. His weapon of choice wasn’t just technology, but people — using masterful social engineering tactics to manipulate employees into handing over passwords, codes, and access without ever realizing they’d been deceived. Mitnick’s ability to slip past defenses triggered one of the most legendary FBI manhunts in American history. When he was finally captured in 1995, authorities considered him so dangerous they kept him in solitary confinement, fearing he could spark global chaos with a mere phone call and cause a nuclear war. After serving nearly five years in prison, Mitnick reinvented himself, emerging from the shadows to become a cybersecurity consultant, keynote speaker, and best-selling author, turning his once-illegal talents into a force for good.
THE BEGINNING OF CYBERSECURITY
The history of cybersecurity is fascinating and is believed to have begun in 1971 when Bob Thomas, a computer programmer at BBN, created the first computer virus as a security test. Named “Creeper” after a Scooby-Doo villain, the virus was not malicious but exposed vulnerabilities in ARPANET, the early network developed by the U.S. Department of Defence that eventually evolved into the internet. Creeper was designed as a non-harmful, self-replicating program to demonstrate how mobile applications could work, but it ended up corrupting DEC PDP-10 mainframe computers at the Digital Equipment Corporation, displaying the message “I’m the creeper, catch me if you can!” on users’ teletype screens. In response, Thomas’ colleague, Ray Tomlinson, developed the Reaper program, a self-replicating software designed to hunt down and delete Creeper from the network. Reaper became the world’s first antivirus program and marked the earliest known effort at cybersecurity.
CYBERSECURITY IN THE 1980s
The 1980s, a decade marked by glam metal, the rise of hip-hop, and Reaganomics, was also a pivotal era for cybersecurity as personal computers became widespread and a diversity of systems emerged. Many users connected through Bulletin Board Systems (BBS), making information sharing easier but also opening the door to new security threats, including the Elk Cloner virus (1982) targeting Apple II computers, the Brain virus (1986) affecting IBM PC-compatible systems, and the Morris Worm (1988), one of the earliest widespread malware attacks created by Robert Tappan Morris. The introduction of the Domain Name System (DNS) in 1983 simplified internet navigation, but security practices, especially regarding password protection, remained weak. Government agencies, however, began recognizing the importance of cybersecurity, leading President Ronald Reagan to issue National Security Decision Directive 145 in 1983 to safeguard telecommunications and computer systems. The decade also saw the first ransomware attack, the AIDS or Aids Info Disk, distributed via floppy disk by Joseph L. Popp to World Health Organization conference attendees, resulting in multiple blackmail charges. Innovation, exploration, and early connectivity defined the 1980s, as individuals began exploiting vulnerabilities out of curiosity or challenge, and cyber espionage emerged when German hacker Marcus Hess used ARPANET in 1986 to infiltrate over 400 U.S. military computers within minutes.
CYBERSECURITY IN THE 1990s
Along with the birth of grunge music and The Simpsons, the 1990s were defined by the rapid rise of personal computing, the explosive growth of the Internet, and the emergence of cybersecurity as a critical industry. As digital technologies evolved and the web became commercialized, Internet usage soared—and with it, new cybersecurity challenges emerged. Online communities like IRC and America Online (AOL) created opportunities for unauthorized access, social engineering, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Microsoft Windows, now the dominant operating system, became a major target for malware such as viruses and worms, prompting companies to develop firewalls as a line of defence. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), founded in 1990, played a crucial role in advocating for digital rights, pushing legal discussions about cybersecurity and personal data protection into the public spotlight, a mission the organization still pursues today. Meanwhile, governments and law enforcement agencies began forming electronic crime task forces to investigate and prosecute cybercriminals, as concerns like the Y2K bug heightened global awareness of system vulnerabilities. Overall, the 1990s laid the foundation for cybersecurity as a serious and evolving field, setting the stage for the complex digital landscape of the 21st century.
CYBERSECURITY IN THE EARLY 2000s
The early 2000s witnessed a massive surge in internet usage, with more than a billion people online by 2005, but cybersecurity was often an afterthought, relying mainly on basic passwords, firewalls, and antivirus software for defence. Hackers during this period were largely motivated by a desire to experiment, build their reputations, or cause disruption, unleashing infamous malware like ILOVEYOU, Code Red, and MyDoom. This era was marked by limited digitization and minimal regulatory oversight, as slow adoption of digital processes in sectors like accounting meant most financial data remained stored in physical files, making them less vulnerable to cyber threats but still exposed to physical breaches. Meanwhile, regulatory frameworks for the digital world were still in their infancy, with the Data Protection Act of 1998—one of the few guiding principles for organizations handling personal information—only just beginning to shape early discussions around digital security and privacy.
CYBERSECURITY IN THE MID 2000s
The mid-2000s marked a turning point as cyber threats grew more sophisticated, with a sharp rise in malware, phishing attacks, and data breaches prompting organizations, including accounting firms, to take cybersecurity more seriously by adopting passwords, access controls, firewalls, and antivirus software as standard defenses. Hackers began monetizing their activities, scamming users through malware like Zeus and Vundo, while botnets such as Storm were deployed to conduct Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks against firms fighting back against these scams, leading to increasingly organized spam campaigns and the emergence of ‘malvertising.’ As firms digitized more of their operations, sensitive data became significantly more vulnerable, and breaches often resulted in serious financial and reputational damage, with high-profile examples like TJX, the parent company of TK Maxx, paying out US$41 million in 2007 after 45 million credit card details were stolen. At the same time, companies firms faced mounting compliance pressure as regulatory bodies began introducing cybersecurity requirements, forcing the industry to strengthen its digital defenses and risk management strategies.
CYBERSECURITY IN THE 2010s
The 2010s witnessed a significant cybersecurity revolution. High-profile data breaches, like the TJX incident in the mid-2000s, shifted cybersecurity to a board-level concern for many organizations. New technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, were integrated into systems to enhance detection and prevention efforts. As the cybercrime market matured, research from the Home Office in 2018 revealed that sellers of stolen data were earning between £24,000 and £95,000 in profit, while the buyers of this data were making between £6.1 million and £25.2 million from its use. Ransomware attacks also became more prevalent, automating the spread of malware and extorting victims. High-profile attacks like WannaCry and NotPetya exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, leading to over US$10 billion in damages. This period saw the introduction of more robust cybersecurity measures, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and secure cloud solutions. As cybersecurity became a specialized function, many organizations began appointing Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to oversee their efforts. Recognizing the growing importance of cybersecurity, regulatory bodies implemented stricter compliance requirements, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), enforced by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which also began issuing penalties for serious breaches of data protection laws. With the rising importance of cybersecurity, the demand for skilled professionals skyrocketed, creating a talent shortage in the field.
THE NEW NORMAL
Today, cybersecurity is integral to the operations of almost every organization. Companies are increasingly adopting a proactive approach, with teams – either in-house or outsourced – that continuously monitor for threats and invest in the latest security technologies. As businesses become more reliant on third parties for services, suppliers have also become targets of cyberattacks, with a significant number of recent breaches resulting from supplier vulnerabilities. The growth of remote work during the pandemic has further expanded the attack surface, making it more complex to secure systems and data. As a result, organizations are focusing on securing home networks and educating employees about best practices. Many businesses have migrated to cloud-based software, which offers improved security and accessibility, though these systems must be properly configured and continuously monitored to ensure protection.
BE CYBER SECURE
Cybersecurity has undergone significant changes over the past 20 years, driven by advancements in technology and evolving work practices. As emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, quantum computing, and automation continue to develop, we can expect the cybersecurity landscape to keep evolving. It’s crucial to stay cyber-aware and take proactive steps to protect your business from a wide range of cyber threats. While cybersecurity technologies continue to advance, the fundamental principles of good cyber hygiene remain unchanged. The National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) “10 Steps to Cyber Security” offers a valuable guide on essential controls organizations should implement, including access control, vulnerability management, user training, and vendor management.
PROTECT IT BETTER
As London’s #1 end-to-end cybersecurity and IT support for SMEs, Zhero knows the ins and outs of cyberattacks and how to mitigate these. Our Protect IT Better offering has been carefully crafted and developed to proactively nurture and build a sustainable cybersecurity environment giving your business a competitive advantage. We’ve incorporated the most advanced technology-as-a-service innovations and created Protect IT better. Protect IT better follows a holistic approach that ensures you are always protected against modern-day cyberattacks. Get in touch today to secure your world. Together we can make our online world in the UK and beyond safe for everybody.
