The world has come a long way since the first computer viruses – Creeper, Wabbit and Elk Cloner – were unleashed on the ARPANET (forming the technical base of today’s internet) close to half a century ago. Initially self-replicating and somewhat harmless programs, these viruses and worms gradually turned complex, vicious and persistent. The internet is a goldmine for cybercriminals and they can easily release malware for a price, bringing businesses as well as nations to a crashing halt.