Which historical event marked a major milestone in cybersecurity?

The Morris Worm in 1988 is recognized as a significant milestone in the field of cybersecurity because it was one of the first computer worms distributed via the Internet. Created by Robert Tappan Morris, this worm inadvertently caused substantial disruption by exploiting vulnerabilities in UNIX systems, leading to an estimated 6,000 computers being affected at its peak, which represented about 10% of the Internet at that time.

This incident highlighted the potential for software vulnerabilities to be exploited in a networked environment and raised awareness about the importance of cybersecurity measures. It served as a catalyst for the development of more robust security protocols and led to the creation of various cybersecurity roles and the establishment of the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). The Morris Worm's impact marked a turning point in how systems and networks approached security, shaping the future landscape of cybersecurity practices and policies.

The other events mentioned, while significant in their own right, did not specifically illustrate the challenges posed by cybersecurity threats in the way the Morris Worm did. The creation of the Internet and the development of email laid the groundwork for modern digital communication but did not directly address the cybersecurity implications that arose from these advancements. The introduction of firewalls was an important response to these threats, but it came after the Morris