WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BUGS?

This text is not about bugs that you can find at the park, in your garden or even under your bed. It is about computer bugs, also known as software bugs. A computer bug is a mistake in a computer program, which prevents it from working correctly. They can be because of a code or design problem.

If there is a bug in a program or app that you use, the program or the app may crash or freeze. When that happens, you either close the app or restart your phone, tablet or computer.

In February 2019, a 14-year-old boy called Grant Thompson found a bug on Apple’s popular FaceTime app. The boy just wanted to call his friends while playing Fortnite. Then he realised that he could hear his friend even though his friend didn’t answer his call. He told that to his friend and they were all very surprised. They tried it many times but the result was always the same.

His mother contacted Apple and informed them about the bug. They didn’t get back to her for nine days. Meanwhile, the bug was on the news and also the social media. Apple shut down the group chat feature while it looked for a solution to the problem. They fixed the glitch with a software update.

Apple publicly thanked Grant and his mother for what they did. They also decided to give Grant a “bug bounty”, which is cash reward given to people who finds bugs in software. Grant said that he would use that money for his education.

So next time you use your phone, be careful. You may also find a bug like him.