Challenge 747 - Wiped out (Sequel to "Infested")

[m_findlow]

Title: Wiped out (Sequel to "Infested")

Character: Jack, Gerald Carter
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG

Length: 200 words

Content notes: none

Author notes: Written for Challenge 747 - Magnet/Magnetism at torchwood100

Summary: Sophisticated technology is no match for rudimentary technology. A double drabble.


Gerald looked even more confused. ‘How does a magnet cure a computer virus? I can key in information or retrieve it, but that doesn't mean I understand how the technology works.’ The fact that Torchwood ran on technology that wouldn’t be invented for decades, or even on this world, was nothing new. It was just handy that they happened to have someone here who knew enough about it to know how to fix it.

Jack grinned. ‘Computer science 101 - computers, at least the kind we run at the hub now, contain magnetic disks where the data is recorded. Think of it as being a bit like a record you play on the gramophone. Late twentieth century computing is still pretty rudimentary, even if it’s advanced for 1912. One thing that magnetic tape drives don’t like is, ironically, magnetic interference. Scrambles them and corrupts the data.’

He ran the large magnet over the top several times but Gerald couldn’t see it making any difference to the box or what was inside. ‘There. One hard drive was totally corrupted and unusable. Virus destroyed. We might have lost a little bit of data along the way, but it’s still better than the alternative.’
 

Comments

[badly_knitted]

Tosh could have dealt with the virus a lot better, but Jack's solution was effective given what he had on hand. There should be a sequel where he tells Tosh about how he used to deal with computer viruses before he had her to fix things.