Appearances in Media from 1989-2010 incl. recent AIDS Information Trojan articles (the first ransomware)

This is just a small overview.

It’s impossible to provide you with all my press coverage with over 3 decades of security interviews (over 3700 interviews)!

All interviews and articles are seen as references of the provider or originator.

Nothing on this page may be reproduced without asking the originator which hold the copyrights.

More coming soon …

1989 (How it all started …)

VTM Nieuws/News – December 1989

The AIDS information diskette (first ransomware ever) and I was one of the first to find a solution for it. (Dutch)

This it the real interview which changed my life completely … so young … 😉

Created from the original source owned by VTM.

Additional links in chronological order to various articles about the AIDS Information Trojan, the first ransomware, including my story: the story of my life…

Please note that I still have the original floppy, one of the last remaining copies worldwide.

Vice magazine US 2017: The worlds first ransomware came on a floppy.

El Confidencial Spain 2017: Primer ransomware del mundo. (Spanish)

Techzine BE and NL Blog 2017: Hoe ransomware mijn leven op zijn kop zette. (Dutch)

De Volkskrant NL 2018: Ransomware bestaat al langer dan u denkt. (Dutch) (paywall)

RTL TV Nieuws NL 2018: Deze belg kraakte ‘s werelds eerste ransomware in 1989. (Dutch)

RTL TV Nieuws NL 2018 Youtube video. (Dutch)

G DATA CyberDefense Blog 2020: How I got into the security industry.

Bloomberg US 2020: Dark web ransomware.

De Kennis Van Nu (20 May) 2020 TV Doc. NPO2-NTR: No Internet! (Dutch full broadcast >10:30 to 14:30 min)

De Kennis Van Nu (20 May) 2020 TV Doc. NPO2-NTR: No Internet! (Dutch short video fragment)

De Kennis Van Nu (20 May) 2020 TV Doc. NPO2-NTR: First Ransomware Trailer! (Dutch short video fragment)

Over 30 years of TV appearances in cyber security: there is a big difference!

CSO Online US 2020: A history of Ransomware, the motives and methods behind these evolving attacks.

CNN Business US 16 May 2021: The bizarre story of the inventor of ransomware. (highly recommended read)

KITV 4 ABC Hawaii 16 May 2021: The bizarre story of the inventor of ransomware. (CNN based)

Explica CO US 17 May 2021: The strange story of the worlds first ransomware attack.

2 Oceans Vibe US 18 May 2021: Fascinating story of catching man behind worlds first ransomware. (CNN based)

De Morgen Newspaper Belgium 19 May 2021: Hoe deze Belg de allereerste ransomware ooit ontmantelde in een kantoortje in Antwerpen. (Dutch) (paywall)

The Moncrieff Ireland popular News show 20 May 2021: Ransomwares first victim.

Het Nieuwsblad Newspaper Belgium 21 May 2021: Gegijzeld door een floppy disk. (Dutch) (paywall)

Red Hot Cyber Italy 24 May 2021: Qual è stato il primo Ransomware della storia? (Italian)

Le Soir Belgium 30 November 2021: Eddy Willems, victime d’un ransomware en 1989 (French) (paywall)

Command Line Heroes – Season 9 – Episode 5 – 2022: Ruthless Ransomers (English podcast powered by Red Hat)

The Ransomware Hunting Team – 2022: My story was described in detail in this book (p.29-31) about ransomware written by Pulitzer Price Award Winning Journalists Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden.

Ransomware explained in a funny way – NL TV NPO – 1 November 2022 – by Arjen Lubach (Dutch – I appear after min 1.25)

Academic Paper: Ransomwares Analysis … – 2024: My story was described in short in this paper (p.260) about ransomware written by Cleber Soares, Deivison Franco and Joas A Santos.

The History of Cybercrime: The First Digital Ransom – November 2024 – Episode 2 by Tomorrow Unlocked powered by Kaspersky including David Emm and me (fully dedicated to the AIDS ransomware diskette).