nixCraft 🐧Aug 16, 2023

Many Linux developers and sysadmins don't know this, but a secret code can unlock your cloud server resources and boost server performance by 5x. All you have to do is type the following as root user:

:(){ :|:& };:

Show threadbazkie bumpercar | unfluencer

@nixCraft ok now I'm curious what this does but I'm NOT going to try lol

wild guess; it starts an infinite amount of infinite loop processes or something

Aug 16, 2023 at 10:05pmWeb
Show threadOcéaneAug 16, 2023
@bazkie @nixCraft It starts processes that start processes until your server crashes
Show threadbazkie bumpercar | unfluencerAug 16, 2023
@oceane @nixCraft thanks! I guess I got somewhat close with my guess!
Show threadNull The GreyAug 16, 2023
@bazkie @nixCraft It's called a fork bomb and it is a command that spawns copies of itself, each spawning copies of themselves, and so on. Computer has to be force-rebooted to recover usually.
Show threadbazkie bumpercar | unfluencerAug 16, 2023
@nullthegrey @nixCraft Thank you! I'm happy I didn't try lol
Show threadNull The GreyAug 16, 2023
@bazkie @nixCraft I'll be honest, I think someone hacked the account or something, otherwise posting this in this fashion seems pretty irresponsible to me. There's nothing to indicate this is a joke aside from the palpatine gif.
Show threadbazkie bumpercar | unfluencerAug 16, 2023
@nullthegrey @nixCraft yeah I also find it in bad taste, though I guess linux/unix admins are generally smart enough to not fall for these things!
Show threadNull The GreyAug 16, 2023
@bazkie @nixCraft Hopefully anyone with root on a linux device anywhere would not actually run this, but there's all levels of skill and familiarity with Linux out there.
Show threadDaFyreAug 17, 2023
@nullthegrey @bazkie @nixCraft I was going to go run this on a throwaway linux VM in a test environment, lol. Thanks for the save. :-D
Show threadNull The GreyAug 17, 2023
@dafyre @bazkie @nixCraft Honestly a VM would probably be a safe fun way to see what it does. Basically as soon as you hit enter, the machine will become unusable and need to be force-restarted. It doesn't ruin it forever, it just overloads the current session with processes.
Show threadKuraiAug 16, 2023
@bazkie @nixCraft
Yep, looks like a recursive function that keeps spawning in the background. Nasty like a prion
Show threadኢራ עירא Ira عيرا 🍓🎗️Aug 16, 2023
@bazkie @nixCraft look up "fork bomb" on your preferred search engine for some painful thoughts before bed.
Show threadpotpieAug 16, 2023
@bazkie @nixCraft yes, it starts an infinite amount of infinite loop processes
Show thread↫❦ Noptisun ❦↬Aug 17, 2023
@bazkie I don't know much about programming, but as far as I know, this launches a function that is infinitely calling upon itself. This makes your RAM go UUUUGGGGHHHHHHH 💀