The worm that broke the internet

Before the World Wide Web, in a time when the internet was anything unlike what we know today, there was a worm. That worm broke the internet, affecting nearly 10% of devices online worldwide. | Photo Credit: Stephanie Harlacher / Unsplash It is the dream of every (or most) digital native, or all of us living through the Information Age, to break the internet. For the uninitiated, that’s the process of posting or publishing something on the internet that goes on to create a terrific amount of interest, shock, or excitement. When you break the internet, a large number of people usually end up sharing or reacting to your initial post.Even as you continue to think about your next post, picture, or reel that can maybe achieve this, spare a moment to think about whether the internet has ever been broken. Turns out, the answer is a resounding yes. But no, it wasn’t a celebrity posting about their latest life update, creating ripples across the globe. It was, in fact, the result of a student unleashing a computer worm in an experiment gone wrong. Published - November 02, 2026 07:07 am IST