Question

Computer system failures have been occurring since the earliest days of computing. One of
the most (in)famous problem is known worldwide as the Y2K bug.
1) What exactly was the Y2K bug?
2) What were the fears concerning the Y2K bug?
3) Where these fears realised?

please answer all the question related to it.

Answer 1

1) What exactly was the Y2K bug?

The Y2K bug was a computer defect or bug, that could have caused glitches when dealing with dates beyond December 31, 1999. The defect, faced by programmers and users all over the world on January 1, 2000, is also known as the "millennium bug." (The letter K represent kilo/1000).

When computer programs were being written from 1960 to 1980, engineers used a two-digit number for the year. The "19" was skipped. That is, Instead of a date reading 1970, it read 70. Engineers shortened the date as data storage in computers was expensive.

As the year 2000 approached, programmers realized that computers might not interpret 00 as 2000, but as the 1900th year. Functionalities that were programmed on a daily or yearly basis would malfunction.

2) What were the fears concerning the Y2K bug?

It was feared that such a misreading would lead to software/hardware failures in computers used in important fields such as banking, utility systems, government databases, and so on, with the potential for widespread chaos on and following January 1, 2000. Mainframe computers, including those typically used to run insurance companies and banks, were thought to be subject to the most serious Y2K problems, but even latest systems with a network of computers were considered vulnerable.

The Y2K problem was not limited to computers running traditional software, Many devices with computer chips, ranging from elevators to temperature-control systems in commercial buildings to medical equipment, were believed to be at risk, which forced the checking of these embedded chips for date compliance.

3) Where these fears realised?

Most of these fears are just hallucinations. Governments tried their best to ensure the date issue wouldn't impact daily life. Different software was upgraded well ahead of January 2000.

When 1 January 2000 arrived, there were minor problems. Some programs were not active at that moment and problems would show up when they were started. Not all problems recorded were directly linked to Y2K programming, minor technological glitches occur regularly. Some caused erroneous results, some caused machines to stop working, some caused date errors and this affected some industries.

Though impact was not on a wide scale, few industries faced the issue. Because of preparedness, countries could handle the Y2K bug.