From the article: You Already Know Greek Myths
Today I read about a piece of malware, known as the ZeusBot, that infects computers of people who open a specific e-mail postcard. The name is based on the powerful king of the Greek gods, Zeus. Nero is used for burning software. What other examples can you provide of figures from Greek mythology and ancient history that have been taken over by today's computer-based culture? Post examples:
Ajax
- Also known as "asynchronous JavaScript and XML." I know it has something to do with web development.
- —Guest Jill
Apollo
- Adobe® AIR™, formerly code-named Apollo, is a cross-operating system runtime that allows developers to use their existing web development skills to build and deploy rich Internet applications to the desktop. Adobe AIR is now shipping on Adobe.com
- —VGrossack
Pandora
- Pandora is an internet radio service that plays music according to artists you like and ones that are similar.
- —Guest Nicole
The 3 Headed Dog
- Kerberos, the network authentication protocol, is named after Cerebrus, the 3 headed dog that guards the gates of Hades.
- —SpiDee
JupiterJack
- JupiterJack is the name of a wireless device that connects to a cell/mobile 'phone and uses a radio frequency to transmit through the car's stereo speakers. It was originally branded the BlackJack but had to be changed for legal reasons. It was one of the products promoted by the late Billy Mayes.
- —Lindsay_Powell
Xena and Eris
- When a Pluto-like planetoid was discovered in the Kuiper belt, the discovers gave it a temporary name of Xena, after the TV show, pending confirmation of the discovery. Xena's only mildly Classical, but close. The discovery of Xena initiated the huge squabble which led to Pluto being demoted from planet status. In the midst of this argument Xena was confirmed, and the discoverer got to choose the official name. He picked Eris, after the Goddess of Confusion.
- —GaryCorby
Trojan - The Most Obvious
- The first one to come to mind would be the pesky "Trojan" virus...we Western Europeans (except the Trojan-descended Irish) must be Greeks indeed as we always name irritating things after our ancient foes.....
- —Guest David
