Top 5 Deadly Linux Commands That Can Destroy Your Computer
Console commands of Linux are the brain of the operating system, any of which are based on Open Source project. It is used in Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and all existing distributions, although many people still do not understand how dangerous some of these codes may be. Some of them can even destroy your computer.
Through the commands of Linux, you can get root access and execute files as a system administrator. As it is known that you must include “-” if you want to install or uninstall software in the operating system. Superuser blocking is the main safeguard against malware since it requires entering the password to execute any action on the system.
There are commands that are able to destroy your Linux computer and have no rollback option. Once you have entered and pressed the Enter key, the operating system will be completely useless and it is necessary to format it if you can.
Among these commands, some can be classified as authentic sequences of self-destruction, and demand to handle them with extreme care.
Table of Contents
1. rm -rf
It is the command used to delete files in Linux and comes from the word Remove, which means to erase. Although you can also delete files graphically, through the integrated browser, from the terminal is the favorite method of the most fanatical of this OS.
Special care must be taken when running the rm -rf command, as it is one of the most dangerous of Linux. If you enter it lightly, it does not prompt you for confirmation and automatically deletes all the files it finds in its path. You can combine the rm command with other letters and characters to get different results.
It has some variants that selectively erase some files, such as read-only ones, leaving others intact. However, unless you are an experienced user, it is not advisable to enter this code in the console.
The use of rm -rf has resulted in several disasters in the Linux community. That’s why it’s one of the most recurring jokes.
2. :(){:|: &};:
It is the command known as the fork bomb. What it does is run a process that runs two other processes, which then run two more instead. So in succession until the freezing of the system by resource overload.
The only way out of this endless loop is to force the PC off and on again. Although it does not cause irreparable damage to the system – or should not – it also has no practical utility.
3. mkfs.ext3/dev/hda
Do you want to format your hard drive? The best way to do this is to create a bootable USB and do a clean installation of the operating system. Although this method is the easiest and safest if you want you can do it through the console.
The mkfs.ext3 command uses the ext3 file system to format a location, which you specify. If you point to /dev/hda, the hard disk of your PC, there that will erase all data and files. This command is also usually used to format USB drives and other USB storage devices.
Needless to say, enter this command at the terminal of Linux will leave your hard drive completely clean, and this includes the operating system installed on it. You better have the system installed on an SSD or a partition well safe. If not, you will have to use a USB or DVD with some distribution to re-boot your PC.
So, there are better ways to format your hard drive on Linux, and less dangerous.
4. mv directory/dev/null
Null, as its name implies, is nothingness. If you move there any folder or directory of your Linux computer, it will be the same as destroying them. It can not be done graphically through the file browser, only through the terminal.
/dev/null is the command that moves any directory to this empty space where files are lost forever. In front of the first bar, you have to enter the directory you want to destroy preceded by mv.
The closer to the root of the system is the directory you have moved, the worse for you. This means that it contains more files and folders, which have been sent to Null. These files are absolutely unrecoverable after pressing Enter, so think about it.
It’s one of those cases where you have to say “do not try it at home”.
5. wget http://script-O|sh
This command of Linux downloads a script to your computer and run automatically. If the script is malicious, you will have problems. It is not advisable to do it with unknown sources unless you like the risk a lot. You must enter the URL of the same between wget and -O.
In order to run this code, you must have an Internet connection. It will not destroy your computer immediately but if the programmer’s malicious script is good, it may end up doing so.
There are numerous websites on the Internet from where you can download truly useful and harmless scripts, such as Greasy Fork. However, others are not so reliable. Be very careful with the web from which you download any executable file to your PC.
So, if you liked this article then simply do not forget to share this article with your friends and family.
