Why did the command ":(){ :|: & };:" make my system lag so badly I had to reboot?
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blade19899
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Published on 2012-07-04T11:29:15Z
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2012/07/10
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Hit count: 247
command-line
|terminal
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?
:(){ :|: & };:
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