Truth About Computer Security Hysteria
No viruses were harmed in this commercial
Rob Rosenberger, Vmyths co-founderMonday, 31 January 2000 A VIRUS LIZARD breaks into a computer network and wreaks havoc. A damsel in distress cries out for a costumed superhero. He types a command to run antivirus software, which uses a lightning bolt to kill the virus lizard. I fell in love with this animated commercial when I first saw it on the Sci-Fi channel. IT Lynx.com (an IT recruiting firm) lets you watch it online, plus they make it easy to download. It makes a great email attachment. IT Lynx.com marketing director Tom Morrissey — a former brand manager for IBM's antivirus product — spoke with me about the ad. "Our intent was to make a fun commercial," he said. "The animation effects were created by Shane Caudle, the lead animator on Unreal Tournament." IT Lynx.com wanted to project a hero image and a virus seemed like the obvious bad guy.
Watch the commercial, then picture your office virus expert in blue spandex and space boots. You'll have fun, trust me. Just don't ask me who I fantasized about!Some might call it a hokey commercial — but hey, compare it to all of the recent Y2K virus hysteria. You know security experts would don a cape & codpiece if they could get away with it. "Did someone cry out for an antivirus hero?" Watch the commercial, then picture your office virus expert in blue spandex and space boots. You'll have fun, trust me. Just don't ask me who I fantasized about... (Network Associates ran a fantastic "Russian ICBM" commercial during the Superbowl a couple of years ago. Sadly, a clause in the actors' contracts forbid its broadcast on the web.)