The Y2K Computer Bug

History

• February 13, 1984: Paul Gillin makes the first printed reference to the Y2K problem in Computerworld magazine.

• September 6, 1993: Peter de Jager makes the first printed warnings of the dangers of the Y2K bug, also in Computerworld magazine.

• 1993-1999: Governments and businesses worldwide spend somewhere between $300 billion and $900 billion fixing Y2K bugs. Fueled by inaccurate media coverage and gossip, many expect a doomsday scenario of chaos and destruction at midnight January 1, 2000.

• December 1999: Governments and large businesses worldwide set up 24-hour Y2K crisis centers. After the U.S. warns of a worldwide terrorist threat to strike during the holidays, governments worldwide raise security for millennium celebrations to unprecedented levels. Many employees had to work or be on-call for December 31 and January 1.

• January 1, 2000: The Y2K rollover occurs with minor problems. People worldwide are ecstatic. Most people believe that the Y2K problem is over, and many question whether there was ever a problem to begin with.