The greatest artworks in the world are known for their colourful history or maybe, a reasonable backstory. But you must’ve probably seen nothing like what this exception is all about. Out on a pricey auction is a laptop, loaded with six of the most destructive pieces of malware. The viruses in these malware have caused damages worth $100 million worldwide.
The laptop in question is an ordinary Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-inch 2008 model running on Microsoft’s Windows XP Serve Pack 3 and is loaded with six different malware, including ILOVEYOU, MyDoom, SoBig, WannaCry, Dark Tequila, and BlackEnergy. The laptop is being titled as ‘The Persistence of Chaos’ and can be regarded as the most dangerous laptop in the world. It is being kept air-gapped and isolated so that the viruses cannot escape from the laptop. The device is harmless, unless you connect it to a Wi-Fi or plug in a USB.
The idea of a gadget as potent as this one going up for purchase is far from one’s right mind. But, the laptop is indeed on sale and has already crossed a bidding mark of $1.2 million! It is being sold at a private auction, although any one who wishes to buy the laptop can place a bid online. You can also watch a live stream of the auction online as well.
The malware-loaded machine is being sold as a piece of art meant for academic reasons. The sale of such an infectious malware is obviously, illegal. Created by artist Guo O Dong and commissioned by cyber-security firm Deep Instinct, this laptop is being considered a physical form of the abstract threats posed to the digital world.
Digital attacks by the ransomware contained in this laptop don’t just impact the virtual world, they have physical consequences too. The best example for this was the WannaCry ransomware that caused hospital and government agencies around the world to shut down in 2017, leading to damages equivalent of a hundred million dollars and cancellation of tens’ of thousands doctor’s appointments.
It will be interesting to see how much the world’s most dangerous laptop can fetch! Only a few hours of the online auction are left to go.
The laptop in question is an ordinary Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-inch 2008 model running on Microsoft’s Windows XP Serve Pack 3 and is loaded with six different malware, including ILOVEYOU, MyDoom, SoBig, WannaCry, Dark Tequila, and BlackEnergy. The laptop is being titled as ‘The Persistence of Chaos’ and can be regarded as the most dangerous laptop in the world. It is being kept air-gapped and isolated so that the viruses cannot escape from the laptop. The device is harmless, unless you connect it to a Wi-Fi or plug in a USB.
The idea of a gadget as potent as this one going up for purchase is far from one’s right mind. But, the laptop is indeed on sale and has already crossed a bidding mark of $1.2 million! It is being sold at a private auction, although any one who wishes to buy the laptop can place a bid online. You can also watch a live stream of the auction online as well.
The malware-loaded machine is being sold as a piece of art meant for academic reasons. The sale of such an infectious malware is obviously, illegal. Created by artist Guo O Dong and commissioned by cyber-security firm Deep Instinct, this laptop is being considered a physical form of the abstract threats posed to the digital world.
Digital attacks by the ransomware contained in this laptop don’t just impact the virtual world, they have physical consequences too. The best example for this was the WannaCry ransomware that caused hospital and government agencies around the world to shut down in 2017, leading to damages equivalent of a hundred million dollars and cancellation of tens’ of thousands doctor’s appointments.
It will be interesting to see how much the world’s most dangerous laptop can fetch! Only a few hours of the online auction are left to go.
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