Computer virus

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The Ninth Doctor gives Mickey Smith a computer virus on a disc. (TV: World War Three [+]Loading...["World War Three (TV story)"])

Computer viruses were software programs used to infect computers for various reasons, usually malicious.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

3rd millenium B.C.[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 2700 BC, Utnapishtim created a computer virus to destroy Qataka, but did not have time to perfect it and it only broke her links with her mind-slaves. After learning she had survived, he used a perfected version against her, but she had already safeguarded herself and was only temporarily immobilised. (PROSE: Timewyrm: Genesys [+]Loading...["Timewyrm: Genesys (novel)"])

21st century[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 2000, a computer virus was released by the Cybermen which destroyed all the vowels in Earth's computer systems. (PROSE: Vrs [+]Loading...["Vrs (short story)"]) This virus was eradicated by P.R.O.B.E. as the other organisations, such as the groups from Geneva and Canary Wharf, were, by Louise Bayliss's knowledge, were "nowhere to be seen". (PROSE: The Last Dose [+]Loading...["The Last Dose (short story)"])

RUFFCUT was a particularily malignant virus that masqueraded as enticing files to download after learning the target user's file-downloading habits, which, when downloaded would releases a "catastrophic payload". Its presence slowed the whole Internet down, and on 10 March 2005, UNIT released a press briefing about the virus, and, even within just the preceding hour, and shut down multiple government systems, a hospital, and the traffic system in Lisbon. (PROSE: Computer Virus File Sharing Alert [+]Loading...["Computer Virus File Sharing Alert (short story)"])

On 7 March 2006, the Ninth Doctor gave Mickey Smith a computer virus that would erase all evidence of his existence from the Internet. (TV: World War Three [+]Loading...["World War Three (TV story)"]) Feeling that the Doctor didn't have the right to make such a decision for humanity, Mickey decided against using the virus, though he was prepared to do so if the Doctor proved enough of a danger. (PROSE: Hoax This! [+]Loading...["Hoax This! (short story)"])

A Bad Wolf virus at some point erased all information on Rose Tyler from the Torchwood database. (TV: Love & Monsters [+]Loading...["Love & Monsters (TV story)"])

In the 2000s,[nb 1] cyberterrorists used the Armageddon virus to bring down the international banking network. The virus was later used by Alan Jackson to reprogram Mr Smith. (TV: The Lost Boy [+]Loading...["The Lost Boy (TV story)"])

In 2008 Leadworth, the Eleventh Doctor wrote a computer virus on a mobile phone. It caused all computers and networks around the world to reset their counters and display only the number zero, to alert the Atraxi of Prisoner Zero's presence. It was also, according to the Doctor, "a tiny bit alive". (TV: The Eleventh Hour [+]Loading...["The Eleventh Hour (TV story)"])

In 2009, Ian Webster created the locust virus to take control over his former bullies. The Umorgus wanted to use the virus to take control over the whole world. The virus was destroyed by Sarah Jane Smith and her friends. (AUDIO: Deadly Download [+]Loading...["Deadly Download (audio story)"])

41st century[[edit] | [edit source]]

Devela tried to claim insurance money after infecting the Traffic Control system of Metrolos with a virus that disrupted the traffic flow in one of the planet's cities. (COMIC: Road Rage [+]Loading...["Road Rage (Eleventh Doctor comic story)"])

46th century and beyond[[edit] | [edit source]]

In the 46th century, after being revived in the Dalek-Movellan War, Davros created a computer virus that targeted the First Movellan, spreading throughout the Movellan network to all aboard the Prime Ship. The Tenth Doctor forced the Prime Ship to reboot however, cutting it off from the larger network long enough for the First to purge the virus. Inspired, the Movellans developed their own virus to target the Dalek mutant directly. (AUDIO: The Triumph of Davros [+]Loading...["The Triumph of Davros (audio story)"])

In the 53rd century, (COMIC: Fire and Brimstone [+]Loading...["Fire and Brimstone (comic story)"], PROSE: Kalendorf [+]Loading...["Kalendorf (short story)"]) the Seventh Doctor once used a computer virus to wipe out the Daleks on the planet Manikis. (PROSE: Natalie's Diary [+]Loading...["Natalie's Diary (short story)"])

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. See Aliens of London dating controversy for why this cannot be more precisely dated.