# Horrible Movie and TV tropes about computers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 6, 2026, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852 "2026-09-06T04:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/61 "2026-09-07T03:19:09Z")
I once wanted to show a photo to my doctor, so I copied it to a USB drive and brought it with me to an appointment. He said that the computers in the medical center don’t even have USB ports, to make sure that no malware enters their network that way. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/62 "2026-09-07T09:25:42Z")
> [@Darwins\_Finch](#): > > As for tropes: the screen image being projected on the face of the viewer. To paraphrase Morbo from _Futurama_: monitors do not work that way! Yeah, if your monitor is projecting text onto your face you need to turn the brightness WAY down. Also, you’ve probably just microwaved your brain. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/63 "2026-09-07T09:32:50Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I once wanted to show a photo to my doctor, so I copied it to a USB drive and brought it with me to an appointment. He said that the computers in the medical center don’t even have USB ports, to make sure that no malware enters their network that way. This has long been a thing across a whole bunch of places, my accountancy firm in the uk, cannot access usb or cds, and that’s been true since 2017. Anywhere vaguely sane has had the USB ports disconnected (or more recently just connected for power, to charge things). But lets have the bugbear which gets me. I will specifically name Die Hard 4. And use caps and bold. It is. **WHY IN HOLY FUCK DID YOU CONNECT YOUR NUCLEAR POWER STATION TO THE INTERNET???** ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/64 "2026-09-07T10:54:26Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > This is more of a computer security thing than a “how computers work” thing, but I’m soooo tired of seeing a mystery thumb drive being anonymously delivered to some police precinct or federal law enforcement office and no one ever thinking twice about sticking it into the nearest computer…which, of course, is never air-gapped. > > (And, of course, the network immediately becomes hacked/infected – but it’s the “hey, let’s just stick this in a random computer” thing that bugs the crap outta me.) They did that in both the last good James Bond film (_Skyfall_) and in the last season of _Slow Horses_, an otherwise intelligent spy show. It was pretty disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/65 "2026-09-07T11:42:28Z")
Superman 3 If you’re enough of a computer whiz you can hack the stock exchange, traffic lights, cashpoints, supertankers and weather satellites (which also changes the weather?) from one terminal using BASIC. And then, despite only ever sitting for part of a programming course, since you’re a natural with computers you are now able to design a supercomputer that achieves self-awareness. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/66 "2026-09-07T12:00:13Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Superman 3 > > If you’re enough of a computer whiz you can hack the stock exchange, traffic lights, cashpoints, supertankers and weather satellites (which also changes the weather?) from one terminal using BASIC. Not just BASIC, but you can write a sausage-slicing program using only PRINT statements! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/67 "2026-09-07T13:41:08Z")
I _know_ I’ve seen some movie where the text was projected onto someone’s face and _you could read it_ instead of it being in reverse. Unless that’s some computer reversal text function dealie I’m unaware of. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/68 "2026-09-07T13:46:34Z")
Regarding hacking a computer via a thumb drive, I saw a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFWBatrHbPk) a few months ago that it’s possible to embed malicious hardware in a _USB charging cable_, so you could capture passwords and other data from someone who uses it to charge their smartphone. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/69 "2026-09-07T13:53:23Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > They did that in both the last good James Bond film (_Skyfall_) and in the last season of _Slow Horses_, an otherwise intelligent spy show. It was pretty disappointing. I haven’t seen the Bond yet, but yeah: _Slow Horses_ is one of the examples! I also saw it last season on an episode of _High Potential_ (which I like). > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Regarding hacking a computer via a thumb drive, I saw a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFWBatrHbPk) a few months ago that it’s possible to embed malicious hardware in a _USB charging cable_, so you could capture passwords and other data from someone who uses it to charge their smartphone. So the moral of this story is “don’t stick random things into your devices, kids.” 😁 (yeah, yeah: there’s a sex joke in there, which I almost made but then didn’t…knock yourselves out 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/70 "2026-09-07T13:54:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Regarding hacking a computer via a thumb drive, I saw a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFWBatrHbPk) a few months ago that it’s possible to embed malicious hardware in a _USB charging cable_, so you could capture passwords and other data from someone who uses it to charge their smartphone. There have been people in the street by our office handing out free charging cables and our IT department have made it EXTREMELY clear that we should not under any circumstances use these cables in the office or with any office-related equipment, for this very reason. And, ideally, not use them at all for anything. I haven’t seen them so I can’t opine on who they might be. But apparently it’s a real concern. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/71 "2026-09-07T14:01:11Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I _know_ I’ve seen some movie where the text was projected onto someone’s face and _you could read it_ instead of it being in reverse. Unless that’s some computer reversal text function dealie I’m unaware of. No, you’re just trying to make sense of some cinematic nonsense. It’s not a thing that happens but it looks cooler than just a person sitting at a desk typing. Oh and one more “day saved by just shooting the computer” example: _Under Siege 2: The One With The Train_. That’s technically a spoiler but honestly, if I’ve just saved you from watching this film – you’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/72 "2026-09-07T14:04:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > Regarding hacking a computer via a thumb drive, I saw a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFWBatrHbPk) a few months ago that it’s possible to embed malicious hardware in a _USB charging cable_, so you could capture passwords and other data from someone who uses it to charge their smartphone. > > There have been people in the street by our office handing out free charging cables and our IT department have made it EXTREMELY clear that we should not under any circumstances use these cables in the office or with any office-related equipment, for this very reason. And, ideally, not use them at all for anything. Wow. That’s not _at all_ suspicious, especially if you work someplace like a bank or government agency. Did they have Russian accents? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/73 "2026-09-07T14:10:52Z")
Financial sector. As I said, I didn’t encounter them personally but I’d be more likely to suspect China tbh. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/74 "2026-09-07T14:21:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > … and yet, Stuxnet. From what I understand, they put a a bunch of infected drives in what looked like their original packaging, and scattered them around the facility’s parking lot. At least one programmer saw one on the ground, thought “Cool, free thumb drive!”, used it on his computer, and the rest is history. Of course, one reason Stuxnet worked is that it didn’t launch a huge flashing-lights invasion of its target computer the moment it was plugged in, like in the movies, but instead burrowed inside quietly and its work over the course of several months, if not years. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/75 "2026-09-07T14:27:39Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I haven’t seen them so I can’t opine on who they might be. But apparently it’s a real concern. I can’t really think of any other reasons to be handing out free charging cables on a streetcorner. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/76 "2026-09-07T15:13:48Z")
Let’s be generous and say he unplugged the PC, not the monitor. Was that PC being hacked, or the sever it was using? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/77 "2026-09-07T16:28:54Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > computers in the medical center don’t even have USB ports, When I worked for the NHS in the 1990s, they came round and physically disabled all external drives on all the computers. It’s too tempting to plug that free game on a thumb drive that also installs a virus or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/78 "2026-09-07T16:54:46Z")
The short man had a Russian accent, as well as his female companion who muttered something about “big trouble for moose and squirrel.” ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/79 "2026-09-07T17:55:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Of course, one reason Stuxnet worked is that it didn’t launch a huge flashing-lights invasion of its target computer the moment it was plugged in, like in the movies, but instead burrowed inside quietly and its work over the course of several months, if not years. Like any successful virus (and why fast acting zombie viruses shouldn’t cross the atlantic/pacific), it gets much further with a period of hibernation being passive with no symptoms. But the iranians were asking for it, air gapped computers, sure, but with the usb ports connected? That’s like a child-like failure in security, and IT people should have been… No wait, they probably were. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852/80 "2026-09-07T18:01:29Z")
I could see that management overrode the recommendations of IT. And to be fair, they do need a way to move files from one computer to another. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movie-and-tv-tropes-about-computers/1032852.md?page=5)