Main content

Brain: A personal computer virus

A virus for personal computers was named 'Brain' in 1986. 'Brain' was an accidental virus that spread around the world.

'Welcome to the dungeon' was the message that flashed up on computer screens in 1986.

This was widely reported as the first virus for PCs and became known as 'Brain'.

'Brain' spread around the world and became infamous when it was featured in newspapers and magazines.

Amjad Farooq Alvi tells Gill Kearsley how he and his brother, Basit, came to develop this accidental virus from their shop in Lahore, Pakistan.

(Photo: The 'Brain' computer virus. Credit: Amjad and Basit Alvi)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Wed 26 Jul 202302:50GMT
BBC World Service

More episodes

Previous

Escaping the Nazis in Greece

Next

The Pope’s controversial Nicaragua visit

See all episodes from Witness History

Broadcasts

  • Tue 25 Jul 202307:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Tue 25 Jul 202311:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Tue 25 Jul 202317:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Tue 25 Jul 202321:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Wed 26 Jul 202302:50GMT
    BBC World Service

Featured in...

Podcast