Klingon Anti-virus Available for Download. Really.

Erik Larkin

They walk the warrior's path and they devour horrible-looking bowlfuls of red worms, but hey, Klingons need malware protection too.

To help Worf and his compatriots in their trek for PC security, anti-virus maker Sophos has translated one of their tools into Klingon. Yes, really. It's now available as a free download from http://www.sophos.com/klingon-anti-virus/.

Sophos' Graham Cluely says the app is a working, translated version of Sophos' Threat Detection Test, which is not the full Sophos antivirus product, but can run an on-demand virus scan alongside your existing antivirus protection. The app (both the translated and English versions) isn't meant to replace AV, but to instead provide an additional scan to see if your current program has missed anything.

In an explanatory post, the company says it was actually asked by a (hot-blooded and prone to violence?) potential customer whether the software could be translated, and that it got help from a member of the Klingon Language Institute named naHQun in creating the translation.

As publicity stunts go, I have to say this is a fun one. I'd wonder if a Vulcan version was coming next, but maybe the pointy-ears are too logical to fall for the "Britney Spears Naked!!!" e-mails and don't need it. And if all this Star Trek-talk has you jonesing for more, take a look at "Star Trek Gear Fit for a Trekkie Lifestyle" and a new Star Trek iPhone game.