HACKER Q&A
📣 tucaz

What would happen to the internet if Google turned off overnight?


What would happen to the internet if Google turned off overnight?


  👤 ksaj Accepted Answer ✓
I can't tell if you're thinking of a plausible situation, or something more Reddit-like, but I'll attempt a plausible response.

If a large enough coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun delivered a strong electromagnetic pulse (EMP) through the Earth, they'd both cease to exist. Pretty much instantly. But there'd also be no more electricity, so it'd be a frantic effort to figure out what happened to them. Actually, only employees and their families, and stock holders will be wondering what happened to Google. Everybody (except perhaps a small area in and around Pennsylvania) will be wondering what happened to the electricity.

Ironically, that would be a highly interesting technical event to post to Hacker News if it happened... and it actually could.