revc@noscvax.UUCP (11/17/83)
This is forwarded from one of our local computer bulletin
board systems - Bob
-------------- forwarded message ------------------
From: AWOODY (Lindsay Woodall, San Diego, CA 92104)
Date: 8:32 P.M. Wed Nov 2, 1983
Subject: worms & hackers
We, the practioners of the gentle and nonmalicious art
of "hacking", ought to coin a name for those who malicious-
ly penetrate other computer systems. This would give the
press a name to scream when some nurd has been messing up
or otherwise illegally using someone else's system. A suit-
able name from our viewpoint should be a name which doesn't
have any apparent connection to legitimate computer users.
Also it should have an inherent disreputable connotation so
that it would less likely be worn as a badge of honor by
those in our field who think they have accomplished some-
thing noteworthy by their actions.
A name I propose for this disreputable group of people
is a "worm". This is suitably disreputable and analogous to
the actions of group. "Worms" already is applied to types
of computer programs developed by various countries for the
purpose of causing opponent's computer systems failures
during times of international crisis or warfare. In this
particular case the "worms" claims to be human.
If you think "worms" is a good name for these people
then use it between ourselves and in conversations with the
press. Maybe it will catch on.
Woody
----- end of forwarded message ------
Since I first posted this (there was a outgoing net blockage)
we have decided that as these worms specialize in using
the telephone system, they are part of the subgroup known
as 'ringworms'
Please use net.followup for comments - Bob
Bob Van Cleef
Computer Sciences Corporation
Naval Ocean Systems Center
San Diego, CA
ARPA revc@nosc
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