If the user attempts to kill the process or restart the computer, MEMZ overwrites the MBR.

Once the warnings are accepted, MEMZ triggers a series of chaotic visual and auditory payloads:

from your host computer.

On , the virus still functions in virtual machines, but modern security features (like UEFI firmware and Secure Boot) make it harder for MEMZ to actually "brick" a modern motherboard permanently. However, on Windows XP , the attack surface is vast, and the MBR overwrite is almost always successful.

MEMZ also inspired an entire generation of "tribute" malware, such as the VineOS trojan, NoEscape , and PR0T3CT , all designed to push operating systems to their absolute limits for entertainment value.

MEMZ is a dangerous piece of malware. Never run it on a computer that contains important data. It will destroy your Windows installation. It should only be tested by experienced users within a secure, sandboxed environment.

If you were to double-click an infected MEMZ.exe file on a Windows XP Service Pack 3 machine, here is the 10-minute countdown to hell.

A cascade of message boxes will appear, saying things like "Your computer is ded," "MEMZ Trojan," and "Have a nice day!" 2. Intermediate Payloads (The "Destructive" Phase)

However, because the source code was leaked on GitHub, countless have emerged. Unless you are certain you have the clean version from a verified source, you must treat any MEMZ executable as a "system killer."