Jewniverse

The Israeli Who Put Your Virus Under the Microscope

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Picture a scientist studying viruses. You probably envision someone in a white lab coat staring at vials, working with centrifuges, and peering into microscopes. But what if they are studying computer viruses? Who figures out how to combat those symptoms?

One of the foremost researchers in the field of computer viruses was an Israeli professor named Yisrael Radai. Radai, who recently passed away, was a brilliant theoretician and an important contributor to the international virus research community since its inception in the 1980s. He worked on many computing projects, but he is best known for his groundbreaking work on computer viruses, particularly his analysis of the faults in the Microsoft Anti-Virus. In fact, Radai coined the term “malware” all the way back in 1990.

So next time your virus protection software saves your tush, give a little thanks for Yisrael Radai and all his hard work.

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