# I need computer horror stories

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-horror-stories/496226>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 12, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-horror-stories/496226 "2009-05-12T22:32:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**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:** [May 14, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-horror-stories/496226/61 "2009-05-14T16:57:14Z")

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At one job, someone received one of those emails containing a virus in an attachment, and forwarded the entire message (virus intact) to the entire company, as a warning. (I.e., “Don’t open such messages.”)

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**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-horror-stories/496226/62 "2009-05-14T17:11:30Z")

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> [@Arglefraster](#):
>
> I’ve run into a few that will install the crap even if you click “No”. It lulls you into a false sense of security by making you think you have a choice. Then you click “No” and you’re _still_ fubarred. :mad: Safer to use Task Manager no matter what.

Any such popup results in a Task Manager summoning if I’m at the machine. I always assume they’re malicious.

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**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-horror-stories/496226/63 "2009-05-14T17:31:08Z")

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This one isn’t really a horror story, but it’s amusing.

I used to work at a place that required me to have a security clearance. My mom’s ISP flagged some message that appeared to have come from me as possibly containing a virus. My mom said, “She couldn’t have sent me a virus, she has a security clearance!”

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**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-computer-horror-stories/496226/64 "2009-05-15T01:47:54Z")

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> [@Anne\_Neville](#):
>
> rm \* deletes all files in the current directory.

My favorite (which, c’mon, doesn’t everyone do this once??)

rm -r \*

Directly after which, not realizing what you’ve done, you go out to smoke. Upon returning ~10 minutes later you wonder why it’s still running…

You realize you ran it in /

(wait for it)

because you’re in as root

d’oh

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