Calling All Computer Geeks, What would happen in the event of a global computer virus? Options

[carlyt]

Hi there,

I'm hoping someone might be able to answer a question for me, for a book I'm writing.

Is it possible that someone could invent a virus that could affect computers globally and shut them all down?

What else would be affected?

What would happen to the economy etc?

All ideas welcome

Peace

Carlyt

[juan]

Hi there,

I'm hoping someone might be able to answer a question for me, for a book I'm writing.

Is it possible that someone could invent a virus that could affect computers globally and shut them all down?

What else would be affected?

What would happen to the economy etc?

All ideas welcome

Peace

Carlyt

Anything is possible in the world of fiction. I don't see why a super virus couldn't happen.

As for what would be affected, what wouldn't be affected. Atms, banks, stores, drugstores so noone could get their meds, and even traffic lights. For research look up what people where afraid would of happened in the y2k scare when they thought the computers were going to crash.

[carlyt]

Hi there,

I'm hoping someone might be able to answer a question for me, for a book I'm writing.

Is it possible that someone could invent a virus that could affect computers globally and shut them all down?

What else would be affected?

What would happen to the economy etc?

All ideas welcome

Peace

Carlyt

Anything is possible in the world of fiction. I don't see why a super virus couldn't happen.

As for what would be affected, what wouldn't be affected. Atms, banks, stores, drugstores so noone could get their meds, and even traffic lights. For research look up what people where afraid would of happened in the y2k scare when they thought the computers were going to crash.

[carlyt]

You're right, none of us knows what might happen in the future. I wonder if it would be fixed very quickly, or if it could take days or weeks to sort out. I confess to buying a few extra tins of beans and some candles just before Y2K. What a money-making scam that turned out to be.

[juan]

You're right, none of us knows what might happen in the future. I wonder if it would be fixed very quickly, or if it could take days or weeks to sort out. I confess to buying a few extra tins of beans and some candles just before Y2K. What a money-making scam that turned out to be.

Maybe the governments super computers would be up in a few days but I say about 2 weeks for the publics. You have to remember police, hospitals and even the firefighters will have to use old time methods. It would send us back to the thirties. Crime would go off the charts. Blackouts everywhere. Just look how a store goes crazy when the electricity goes out for a couple of minutes. They are locking the doors and cashiers now a days can't add without the register. We have come to use computers in everyday life.

[carlyt]

You're right, none of us knows what might happen in the future. I wonder if it would be fixed very quickly, or if it could take days or weeks to sort out. I confess to buying a few extra tins of beans and some candles just before Y2K. What a money-making scam that turned out to be.

Maybe the governments super computers would be up in a few days but I say about 2 weeks for the publics. You have to remember police, hospitals and even the firefighters will have to use old time methods. It would send us back to the thirties. Crime would go off the charts. Blackouts everywhere. Just look how a store goes crazy when the electricity goes out for a couple of minutes. They are locking the doors and cashiers now a days can't add without the register. We have come to use computers in everyday life.

[carlyt]

Exactly. The list is endless. In fact, it would be interesting to imagine what will happen when oil runs out (world peace....? Ha ha).

[iamcrazy]

I.would.be.msn-less.

GASP

[carlyt]

I.would.be.msn-less.

GASP

[carlyt]

I know. What would we do? A whole generation of kids forced to rethink the way they communicate.

[carlyt]

They would have to hit out the 7 (I think?) main servers that back up the internet worldwide.

[carlyt]

So you reckon in theory it's feasible? Do you think you could disable them permanently or just temporarily (hours/days/weeks)?

[carlyt]

Ha well anything is technically possible. I remember years ago a group knocked out a few of them temporarily. If you want a world without internet, I think the best way you could feasibly achieve it would be like what just happened in Asia/Middle East, the main cables that go worldwide to provide internet are cut and/or disabled.

[carlyt]

When did they do that? What happened?