Building a Malware Museum - Digital Culture Preservation and the Evolution of Cyber Artifacts

Explore the fascinating intersection of digital preservation, cybersecurity history, and art through this 40-minute DEF CON 33 conference talk by renowned security expert Mikko Hypponen. Discover the compelling story behind creating the world's first online Malware Museum and its transformation into the groundbreaking Museum of Malware Art in Helsinki, which opened in November 2024. Learn about the critical importance of preserving digital culture in an era where software deteriorates, hardware disappears, and file formats become obsolete. Delve into Hypponen's three-decade journey of archiving malware since 1991, initially for research purposes but now recognizing these digital artifacts as valuable cultural specimens that illuminate underground creativity, early hacking culture, and unintended digital aesthetics. Understand how modern emulation techniques enable safe exploration of how early viruses appeared, sounded, and functioned, transforming dangerous code into historical artifacts. Examine the innovative concept of commissioning contemporary artists worldwide to create works inspired by malware and cyber attacks, bridging the gap between cybersecurity and fine art. Gain insights into the challenges and methodologies of digital preservation, the cultural significance of computer viruses as historical documents, and the philosophical questions surrounding what digital heritage deserves protection and remembrance for future generations.