[Tapupah]

If you live in Texas, watch out.

'Crazy' Ant Invasion Frying Computer Equipment

There's a new bug crawling around that can wreak real havoc on computer equipment. And this bug isn't the kind you get through an email or an infected instant message, but an actual, physical insect. To battle this bug, it's more likely that the Orkin man is the one you'll call instead of McAfee,Symantec (NSDQ: SYMC) or some other computer security specialist.

Dubbed the 'crazy rasberry ant,' the flea-sized pests have been causing power surges and frying computers and other electronics around Houston for days. By some estimates billions of ants have swarmed the area.

[...]

Along with their craziness, the hairy, reddish-brown creepy crawlies also have a bizarre love for electronics, invading them in droves and in some cases causing power surges that can render a computer useless. They've been found inside hard drives and caught burrowing into laptops, in some cases making them not work at all.

[nonDosearrany]

There is a zillion year old sci-fi movie (done at the dawn of time) about giant ants. It was called "Them" and while I was reading your article, I was hearing in my mind the freaky sound effects of the ants in that movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qduC7D7Amlk [rofl][rofl][rofl][rofl]

[spamkillerf]

Getting into HDD? Aren't they Hermetically sealed?

edit - Never mind, seems that they aren't.

[Joesred]

There is a completely environmentally friendly solution to that problem :-



But don't mess with them :-

In April 2007, an anteater at the Florencio Varela Zoo near Buenos Aires, Argentina attacked Melisa Casco, a zookeeper, mauling her abdomen and legs with its sharp front claws. The 19-year old zookeeper was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, and later succumbed to her injuries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_anteater




Or the other good old fashioned method... :-

[NaMbessemab]

Getting into HDD? Aren't they Hermetically sealed?

edit - Never mind, seems that they aren't.

I doubt they would get into a HDD. I think the reporter is mistaken for calling the PC case the HDD. Like most n00bs.