Re: Friend did something similar
There used to be quite a few virus scanners that would try to open any zip file they came across. Cat /dev/zero | gzip > nasty.zip was a quick way to create the magic expanding zip file, which when the simple-minded virus scanner found it would crash the system after eating all of its memory.
In a similar sort of theme, the senior staff of a certain Yorkshire university discovered that they had a problem with pornography being emailed around the place, and insisted upon punishment for anyone receiving such filth by email.
Inside of oh, about five minutes, the entirety of the senior faculty were magically receiving both barrels of "rule 34" pornography; indescribable stuff that presumably someone somewhere likes, but which otherwise triggers gag and vomit reflexes whilst at the same time violating anti-porn rules in quite a staggering number of ways.
The rule was rescinded remarkably quickly, with quite a few senior academics forswearing off computers for life.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
