In 1986, the first IBM PC virus, Brain , was released. Seeing a massive business opportunity, programmer John McAfee created VirusScan, the first commercial antivirus program [4, 5.4]. McAfee promoted his software using a "antivirus response unit"—a truck outfitted like the Ghostbusters—to respond to virus outbreaks [5.3]. While he eventually became a controversial international figure , his work established the antivirus industry [16, 18, 31].
The history of antivirus software is a saga that spans from experimental pranks to multi-billion dollar industries and high-stakes international intrigue. Antivirus
: Today, operating systems have their own defenses, like Microsoft Defender and Apple’s XProtect, which are now often considered sufficient for average users without needing extra paid software [5.1]. In 1986, the first IBM PC virus, Brain , was released