Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!decwrl!polyslo!vlsi3b15!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: hassler@nap1.arpa (Barry D. Hassler) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Re: "Computer Condom" (from Risks digest)... Message-ID: <0002.8908021134.AA00783@ge.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 1 Aug 89 16:33:15 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 30 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu In article <0003.8907311200.AA25265@ge.sei.cmu.edu> dmg@lid.mitre.org (David Gu rsky) writes: >[From the Seattle Weekly, 5/3/89] > >PUT A CONDOM ON YOUR COMPUTER > >... >Cummings, the company's president, says the system "stops all viruses" by >monitoring the user network, the keyboard, and the program in use. He notes >that the system is programmable to alter the parameters of its control on >any given machine, but he guarantees that, "when programmed to your >requirements, it will not allow viruses to enter." Pardon me for my opinions (and lack of expertise in viral control), but I think these types of products are dangerous to the purchaser, while most likely being especially profitable for the seller. I just saw a copy of this floating around to some senior management-types after being forwarded several times, and dug up this copy to bounce my two cents off. First of all, I don't see any method which can be guaranteed to protect against all viruses (of course the "when programmed to your requirements" pretty well covers all bases, doesn't it?). Naturally, specific viruses or methods of attach can be covered with various types of watchdog software/hardware, but I don't think it is possible to cover all the avenues in any way. - ----- Barry D. Hassler hassler@asd.wpafb.af.mil System Software Analyst (513) 427-6369 Control Data Corporation