MuMa-GO -

KATEGORIA:
PARAS KAMPANJA

challenge

Cyber security is a significant global threat, yet it is widely misunderstood and often dismissed as something only “the geeks” need to worry about. Its abstract nature makes it hard to grasp, and explanations are often clouded by technical jargon or scare tactics. The real challenge isn’t just explaining cyber security—it’s breaking through indifference and making it intriguing, relevant, and accessible to everyone

“It is very hard to understand what we are speaking
about when we talk about cyber security and cyber threats.”

Mikko Hyppönen – WithSecure

Strategy

Malware has a rich history of creativity and artistry—from playful viruses of the past to today’s sophisticated cyber threats. Our strategy was to use art and immersive experiences to transform cyber security from something abstract and misunderstood into something tangible and culturally relevant. By exploring the stories, evolution, and creative aspects of malware, we aimed to spark curiosity and showcase the unseen world of cyber security, bridging the gap between technology and human understanding.

Creative Solution

We brought cybersecurity to life through art. Nine international artists collaborated with WithSecure experts to transform malware stories into immersive works—from sculptures and textiles to interactive installations. Each piece reimagined digital threats as tangible, emotional experiences, bridging the gap between cybersecurity and human understanding.

The Museum of Malware art is an evolving exhibition housed at WithSecure’s headquarters and showcased globally through events and branded content. The museum reinforces the company’s long heritage and industry leadership in cybersecurity while making a technical topic relevant to everyone. It turns invisible threats into visible and tangible experiences and stories.

Collections

The Museum of Malware Art collections explore the past, present, and future of malware. From 1980s viruses and hacker culture to modern AI-powered attacks, they trace the evolution of cyber threats through sculptures, paintings, soundscapes, and immersive installations. Curated by WithSecure Chief Research Officer Mikko Hyppönen, the collection continues to expand, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of cyber security and its societal impact.

The Museum of Malware Art collections are best experienced in situ. Learn more and plan your visit at museumofmalware.art

AUDIO TOUR BY MIKKO HYPPÖNEN

Artist: Iikko Kuusela
Malware: Multiple
Medium: Interactive installation
Year: 2024

W/Threatscape is an interactive installation that allows viewers to see and capture malware from near real-time threat data with their bare hands. The work combines gesture recognition, visual programming and image diffusion models in a unique way, making previously unseen cyber threats tangible and prompting reflection on the constantly changing cyber security landscape.

Artist: Hugo Lankinen & Kasper Hildén
Malware: ILOVEYOU
Medium: Crowdsourced computer mice, spray paint, metal
Year: 2024

Inspired by the infamous ILOVEYOU malware, this heart-shaped sculpture explores the emotional and technological impact of the virus. When users clicked on LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbs, their computers were infected, turning a simple mouse click into global devastation. Made from old computer mice, the piece highlights the virus’s rapid spread through email in 2000 and its lasting influence on digital culture, love, and vulnerability.

Artist: EGS
Malware: Blaster
Medium: Stainless steel
Year: 2024

Inspired by the Blaster malware, this piece explores global contagion. The Blaster worm, one of history’s largest malware outbreaks in August 2003, infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide. Like graffiti in urban spaces, malware spreads uncontrollably, leaving disruptive marks on systems and societies. The author of Blaster.A remains unknown.

Artist: Joey Holder
Malware: Ransomware
Medium: 3D print, bronze, plywood, camera, LED
Year: 2024

This sculpture symbolizes the encryption process in ransomware attacks. Inspired by puzzle boxes and guarded by a spider-like figure, it represents data being concealed and held hostage. At its core lies a sigil, merging ancient symbolism with modern cryptography, reflecting the complex interplay between encryption and decoding.

Artist: Johanna Vierimaa
Malware: Ducktail
Medium: Woven textile pattern
Year: 2024

This pattern visualizes the nature of the DUCKTAIL malware. Overlapping tiles symbolize its stealth, while its capture in fabric represents its containment. Discovered by WithSecure, DUCKTAIL is commemorated as a tangible design, reflecting the practice of translating digital threats into visual representations.

Artist: Ville MJ Hyvönen
Malware: Phishing
Medium: Sound
Year: 2024

This installation explores hacker culture, social engineering, and phishing through data sonification, ML audio models, and generative sound. Combining modem tones, packet radio transmissions, and electromagnetic noises, it creates a retro-futuristic soundscape. Phishing messages, read by AI synthesizers and voice actors, evoke an auditory uncanny valley, blending nostalgia and modern glitches.

Artist: Greg Linares
Malware: Cyberwar
Medium: Digital, aluminium
Year: 2024

These pieces are generated from the Industroyer malware code, used by Russia to cut power in Ukraine. A custom AI system ran the malware in sandboxes, mapping code chunks to AI prompts. Combined with textures like Ukraine’s map, the prompts created the striking images displayed here.

Artist: Multiple
Malware: Multiple
Medium: Video & still images
Year: 2024

A curated collection of malware visuals spanning 1987 to 2024. This archive traces the evolution of digital threats, from early MS-DOS viruses to complex ransomware, capturing the technological and cultural impact of each era’s most infamous malware. Explore the artistry and complexity behind code designed to disrupt, deceive, and devastate.

Artist: Master Boot Record
Malware: Multiple
Medium: Sound
Year: 2017

Released in 2017 by Master Boot Record, this album explores retro computing and hacking themes. It takes listeners on a fictional journey through a virus-infected DOS-era system, with tracks named after infamous 1980s and 1990s viruses like “STONED,” “CASCADE,” and “FORM.”

Museum Experience

Building the Museum of Malware Art was about transforming complex cybersecurity stories into something that people can connect with. We started by exploring the history and impact of the chosen malware, uncovering the narratives behind these digital threats. Each piece was carefully crafted through collaboration with selected artists, capturing the essence of the malware and translating it into their unique artistic vision.

At every step, we focused on creating an exceptional visitor experience. From developing concepts to experimenting with materials and techniques, we ensured every detail enhanced the artwork and made it engaging.

The result is a comprehensive museum experience designed to make each physical visit both engaging and memorable. Every element was thoughtfully crafted to help visitors build a deeper connection to the stories behind the art. To extend its reach, we made parts of the museum portable and digitally scalable, allowing WithSecure offices and cybersecurity events worldwide to showcase the Museum of Malware Art and its collection, along with the stories behind their creation.