In 1999, David Smith created the Melissa virus, which spread rapidly via Microsoft Word email attachments, causing $1.1 billion in damages and infecting major organizations like Microsoft and the US Marine Corps. Named after a stripper, the virus exploited Outlook to auto-email itself to 50 contacts, overwhelming email servers. Smith was arrested, pled guilty, and helped the FBI catch other virus creators. Melissa revealed vulnerabilities in popular software and the need for better cybersecurity.

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What began as a Minecraft server rivalry among three young hackers escalated into the Mirai botnet, the most powerful DDoS tool in history. Infecting hundreds of thousands of unsecured IoT devices worldwide, Mirai launched record-breaking attacks on major companies and internet infrastructure in 2016. Its creators were caught, but the release of Mirai's code sparked a new era of botnet threats, highlighting vast security flaws and reshaping the cybercrime landscape.

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In May 2021, the Colonial Pipeline, the largest refined oil pipeline in the US, was crippled by a ransomware attack exploiting weak VPN security and leaked credentials. The hack led to fuel shortages, panic buying, and a $4.4M ransom payment. Despite partial ransom recovery by the FBI, the incident exposed major gaps in US critical infrastructure cybersecurity. Two years on, cyber threats to essential systems persist, with little meaningful change in defenses.

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