This computer infected with a virus has just been sold for $ 1.3 million

Showing the transformative nature of the artistic process, a 10-year-old laptop, infected with six of the world's most malicious computer viruses, was auctioned for $ 1.345 million.

Entitled "The Persistence of Chaos", the online artist Guo O Dong has been given a lot of trouble to create the project. Ordered by Deep Instinct, a cybersecurity company for more than $ 10,000, Guo's computer is infected with infamous viruses like WannaCry, which paralyzes English hospitals by rendering MRI scanners and blood storage refrigerators unusable. , and ILOVEYOU, which ends up destroying international chaos and causing more than US $ 15. billions of dollars in damages.

The biggest challenge of the project was not to handle the laptop. To do this, Guo had to keep the Samsung Blue Netbook 2008 safe with a firewall against all other computers. Like a piece of radioactive material, it had to be quarantined in an isolated dwelling in New York.

Engineers were asked to install the six viruses, which also include BlackEnergy, MyDoom, SoBig and the recent DarkTequila. Many of these viruses are old, having stormed the Internet in the early 2000s. However, DarkTequila hit Mexico in 2018. Together, it is estimated that they caused $ 95 billion worth of damage in the world.

"This piece highlights that [the] Internet and IRL are the same place," Guo told artnet News. "Placing this malware – which we usually think of as remote processes taking place somewhere on the network [a]but certainly not for us – in this dismal old laptop makes them a reality."

attracted significant attention, which in turn leads to a significant offer.This surprises Guo, but as he says at artnet, it also follows a logic.

"According to your point of view, this piece could be considered a exhibition of historical weapons, "he says." These malware have been chosen in many cases for the monetary loss they caused. What does it mean that someone wants to pay so much to buy this item? "

criminal, the sale is accompanied by a disclaimer:

In the United States, the sale of malware for operational purposes is illegal.You buy this artwork as a work of art or for academic reasons, and you do not have it. intention to disseminate malware: at the end of this auction and before sending the work, the Internet features of the computer and the available ports will be disabled.

Guo will receive the 39, but he tells artnet that he is divided between two options: keep it or burn it.All those who have already lost something of one of the six viruses might be more inclined ed to see this. last

Source: artnet