A grid of 24 diverse artworks featuring a mix of digital art, illustration and photography. The pieces include abstract shapes, skeletal figures, a tennis racket, and a book titled “Viruses for Dummies”.

An illustrated guide to history's most destructive computer viruses

Words: Rob Alderson
—
Date: 15 July 2014; Work
Illustration

It’s very exhilarating to see people taking something destructive and turning it into something creative; with that in mind please welcome the Computer Virus Catalog.

It’s the brainchild of Amsterdam-based Bas van de Poel, who invited a host of top illustrators to create images insider by “the worst viruses in computer history.” With the likes of HORT, Sarah Mazzetti, Jonathan Zawada and Sam Coldy taking part, there’s some top quality talent involved and an eclectic mix of visual styles to enjoy. It’s also gently educational, with a short paragraph explaining each virus accompanying the image; welcome to a strange world of odd codenames and impressively annoying ways of messing with your Mac.

A collage in red, black and white featuring the word “MARBURG” repeated in a bold, sans-serif typeface. Red circles containing white crosses are scattered across the composition, partially obscuring the text. — Above
HORT: Marburg

A digital collage featuring a person with a pixelated bar over their eyes against a distorted, rainbow-coloured background. A blue floppy disk is laid over the image, featuring the text “NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW” and a command line prompt. — Above
Karborn: Implant

An illustration of three figures trapped within black, pixelated voids against a bright orange background. The figures appear distressed, with wide eyes and open mouths, as they struggle to climb out of the jagged gaps. — Above
Jay Wright: Madman

A 3D render of a stack of grey, textured rocks against a black background. The base of the pile glows with a bright green light that filters through the gaps between the stones. — Above
Jonathan Zawada: Lichen

An illustration of several overlapping browser windows. The central window shows a figure with wavy orange hair holding a tennis racket that frames a pixelated orange skull. — Above
Sarah Mazzetti: Anna Kournikova

A digital collage of round, colourful glasses set against a black background. A plume of grey smoke rises from the frames, framed by concentric neon squares and vertical rainbow lines. — Above
Merijn Hos: Nople

Further Info

www.computerviruscatalog.com

About the Author

Rob Alderson

—

Rob Alderson is a freelance writer, editor and strategist. He was previously editor-in-chief of It’s Nice That and WePresent, and editor of Design Week. He publishes the newsletter Undo, which tries to make sense of how AI is changing design work, the design process and the design industry.

An illustrated guide to history's most destructive computer viruses

Share Article

Further Info

About the Author

Related content

From wax seals to postal stamps, Aplomb perfume’s packaging has the intimacy of a handwritten letter

Artwork for anyone that’s looking: Bill Rebholz on taking ‘trash’ and turning it into beautiful vernacular signs

Mona Chalabi on making sense of the unmeasurable

Affinity and Cavalry give creatives somewhere to create freely… and for free

It's Nice That Newsletters