Why did this command ":(){ :|: & };:" make my system lag so bad I had to reboot?
Posted
by
blade19899
on Ask Ubuntu
See other posts from Ask Ubuntu
or by blade19899
Published on 2012-07-04T11:29:15Z
Indexed on
2012/07/04
15:23 UTC
Read the original article
Hit count: 195
Danger!
Do not run this command to "test" it unless you are prepared for a crash and/or force-rebooting your system
I was in my Virtualbox running 12.04 trying to compile an app, and while waiting I happened to chance upon a forum where a comment said:
Try :(){ :|: & };: Fun, too, and doesn't need root.
Without thinking I ran it in my gnome-terminal it made my 12.04 virtualbox lag so badly I had to shut it down. My question is what does this command do?
:(){ :|: & };:
© Ask Ubuntu or respective owner