At that point, the virus installs a program that renders the computer unable to launch any "executable" applications, such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.

CNN: 'Navidad' computer virus poses moderate risk

Despite successful communications with the probe, Russian engineers were unable to get the probe to launch.

FORBES: Failed Russian Probe Phobos-Grunt Will Fall To Earth This Weekend

Phobos-Grunt has been stuck in Earth orbit since its launch on 9 November, unable to fire the engine that would take it on to Mars.

BBC: Signal picked up from Russia's stranded Mars probe

That meant that as long as I continued working at The Launch Pad, I would be unable to compete or test my business plan against the ideas of others.

FORBES: How I Quit My Day Job for a $25,000 Prize

The convention bans such systems under the belief that a country would not launch a nuclear strike if it were unable to protect itself against retaliation.

CNN: Asian nations split over U.S. missile defense plans

"When the market crashed and we were unable to raise the full funding, we had to re-think our launch plans and shape the business plan in a way that we could execute, " delaying product releases and concentrating on key items, promotions and holiday sales cycles.

WSJ: The Art (and Journey) of Raising Funds