Sasser: 22 years of the birthday worm that froze Windows XP

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0300

You were on Windows XP in 2004 and suddenly the computer started freezing, rebooting on its own, showing that countdown window saying the system would shut down in 60 seconds — and it didn't matter what you did, the countdown wouldn't stop. It happened again. And again. And again. Without opening any suspicious attachment, without clicking on anything. The computer simply collapsed of its own accord.

That was Sasser. And today, 29 April 2026, it turns exactly 22. Released on this same date in 2004 by an 18-year-old German student who chose his own birthday to let the worm loose on the world.

Lsass on Locodigital

Sasser: 22 years of the birthday worm that froze Windows XP