View source for Engineering:MEMZ

{{Short description|Computer trojan horse}}
{{About|the Trojan horse|the vehicle engine brand|MeMZ}}{{Infobox computer virus
|image            =File:MEMZ running on Windows 10.JPG
|caption          = A computer infected with the MEMZ virus, depicted is one of the malware's key [[Payload (computing)|payload]]s, a 'screen tunnelling' effect.
|author= Leurak
|fullname= MEMZ
|common_name={{Unbulleted list|MEMZ|MEMZ trojan|MEMZ virus}}
|type=[[Trojan horse (computing)|Trojan horse]]|OSes=WindowsXP
WindowsVista
Windows7
Windows8
Windows10
Windows11

[[Software:Linux|Linux]] (via WineHQ )
macOs (via WineHQ )}}
'''MEMZ''' (pronounced: '''memes''') is a [[Malware|malware]] [[Computer virus|computer virus]] in the form of a [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojan horse]] made for [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-jdSgjtUPk|title=Viewer-Made Malware 8 - MEMZ (Win32) (flashing lights warning)|last=White|first=Daniel|date=July 8, 2016|website=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]]|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Dean|first=Madeleine|date=August 26, 2016|title=MEMZ virus: what is it and how it affects Windows PC?|work=Windows Report|url=https://windowsreport.com/memz-virus-windows-pc/|url-status=live|access-date=December 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705004340/https://windowsreport.com/memz-virus-windows-pc/|archive-date=2018-07-05}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/yp3nm7/watch-this-malware-turn-a-computer-into-a-digital-hellscape|title=Watch This Malware Turn a Computer into a Digital Hellscape|last=Oberhaus|first=Daniel|date=July 9, 2016|work=Motherboard|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/aekjjk/preserving-the-ancient-art-of-getting-pwned|title=Preserving the Ancient Art of Getting Pwned|last=Maiberg|first=Emaneul|date=July 30, 2016|work=Motherboard|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://genk.vn/hay-xem-malware-nay-bien-may-tinh-cua-ban-thanh-mot-dia-nguc-so-kinh-hoang-nhu-the-nao-20160713173349324.chn|title=Hãy xem cách Malware biến máy tính của bạn thành một địa ngục số kinh hoàng như thế nào|last=Kushman|work=GenK|access-date=December 21, 2018|language=vi}}</ref> The name of the virus refers to its purpose as a humorous virus intended to replicate the effects of early computer viruses.

== Origin ==
MEMZ was originally created by Leurak for [[Social:YouTuber|YouTuber]] danooct1's ''Viewer-Made Malware'' series.<ref name=":3" /> It was later featured by Joel Johansson, alias Vargskelethor, a member of the live-streaming group Vinesauce on his series ''Windows Destruction'', who demonstrated the trojan in action against a Windows 10 [[Virtual machine|virtual machine]]<ref>{{Citation|last=Leurak|title=[Vinesauce] Joel tries out the MEMZ Trojan (with chat)|date=2016-07-24|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtLY94ZAsAQ|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref> after being provided with a copy by danooct1.

== Actions ==
The virus gained notoriety for its unique and complex [[Payload (computing)|payloads]], which automatically activate after each other, some with delay. Examples of payloads include randomly moving the [[Cursor (user interface)|cursor]] slightly, opening up satirical [[Software:Google Search|Google searches]] under Google.co.ck such as "how to remove a virus" and "how to get money" on the user's [[Software:Web browser|web browser]], reversing text, and opening various random [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]] programs (such as the calculator or command prompt). True to the program's name, many parts of the virus are based on [[Social:Internet meme|Internet meme]]s; for example, the virus overwrites the [[Boot sector|boot sector]] with an animation of [[Social:Nyan Cat|Nyan Cat]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Leurak also created a safer version of MEMZ called MEMZ-Clean. The clean version allows the non-destructive payloads to be safely tested and gives the user full control about which payloads are active.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-01|title=MEMZ 4.0 - The clean version (including download)|url=http://www.kcprotrade.com/2017/05/31/memz-4-0-the-clean-version-including-download/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=KC Protrade Services Inc.|language=en-US}}</ref>

== VineMEMZ variant ==
A variant of MEMZ, dubbed "VineMEMZ", was coded by Leurak as a gift to Johansson after the livestream featuring the original MEMZ gained significant traction. This version of MEMZ is similar to the original, but features many references to Vinesauce, especially Johansson's other game streams, such as the bootleg game ''7 Grand Dad'' and the [[Adware|adware]] program [[Software:BonziBuddy|BonziBuddy]]. This variant has also been released to the public.<ref>{{cite web |last1=danooct1 |title=VineMEMZ (Win32) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkZtfLY4DkY |website=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |access-date=8 December 2019}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align             = center
| width             = 220
| image1            = VineMEMZ running on Windows 11.JPG
| caption1          = VineMEMZ running on [[Software:Windows 11|Windows 11]]. Depicted is one of its payloads, the christmas light effect, where it changes the screen color. For this image, it's set to pink. Half of the payloads has executed at this point on.
| image2            =
| caption2          = The final payload of VineMEMZ, where it starts Bonzi Buddy. The user has no other choice but to press the "END MY PAIN!" button to exit Windows or kill it using Task Manager and get the MBR overwritten by the virus, rendering it unbootable.
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Hacking in the 2010s}}
[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:Internet trolling]]

{{Sourceattribution|MEMZ|1}}