Morris worm

Morris worm appears to be the 1st computer virus perceived by mainstream on November 2, 1988.

It became known as the Morris worm - named for its author, Cornell University student Robert Tappan Morris - made front-page headlines after first making life miserable for IT professionals.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/eye-opening-%E2%80%98morris-worm%E2%80%99-turns-25-tomorrow