Path: utzoo!utgpu!utstat!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!unmvax!ncar!tank!eecae!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: kelly@uts.amdahl.com (Kelly Goen) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Pam Kanes book and the CVIA Message-ID: <0004.8911101233.AA16030@ge.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 8 Nov 89 02:38:45 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 91 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu Hi I am passing this note on for the CVIA... no endorsement is made nor representation implied by Amdahl Corp or Onsite consulting as to the information that follows: I am the Acting Technical Director of the National BBS Society and, though I spend a great deal of time on computer virus related activities, I am not an active participant in any of the virus discussion forums, such as Virus-L. I do keep current with important virus issues and virus-related publications and occasionally come across something that requires comment. Pam Kane's book "V.I.R.U.S. - Vital Information Resources Under Siege" from Bantam Books is one such thing. Aside from the many technical inaccuracies and misleading product information contained in the book, Pam Kane's portrayal of the National BBS Society, the Computer Virus Industry Association and John McAfee's involvement in each is highly charged and grossly fallacious. Her assertion, for example, that Mr. McAfee 'owns' the National Bulletin Board Society and controls its virus-related activities is absurd to the point of comedy. The claim that the donation of a five-line bulletin board, months of unpaid time, and the responsibilities of coordination for a loose-knit and highly independent group of 2,000 SysOps is "ownership" cannot be taken seriously. Her entire discussion of the National Bulletin Board Society shows a blatant disregard for the facts and an alarming lack of understanding of the dynamics of virus research. More amazing, though, is her recollection of the events surrounding the formation of the Computer Virus Industry Association, an event that I witnessed first hand. Ms. Kane would have us believe that Mr. McAfee was strongly interested in having herself and other small antiviral product vendors as members and went out of his way to try and force membership on these companies. My own recollection was that Mr. McAfee extended these invitations out of politeness. It is hard to imagine why an organization that includes Microsoft, Lotus, Novell, Boeing Computer Services, Amdahl, Locus, Fujitsu, Ford Aerospace, Martin Marietta and 35 other such companies would be so interested in having Panda Systems as a member. I asked for and received permission from Mr. McAfee to include part of a May 2, 1988 letter from Mr. McAfee to Kate Drew-Wilkerson describing his intent to form the CVIA. I hope this puts his intent in proper perspective: "May 2, 1988 "Kate, " It is clear, at least to me, that computer viruses will not go away of their own accord. On the contrary, they must, based on all known laws of statistics, increase in prevalence. What we see today is merely a shadow of the problems we will face in the future. The number of individual strains will increase at some linear rate, and the incidences of infection will increase geometrically. This much is clear. The time frame is the only unknown. " Accordingly, I feel that the most urgent need is to organize. A consortium of hardware and software developers focused on the unique problems posed by an impending rash of infections is Priority One. For this to work, we mustobviously have the corporate computer industry leaders involved. How to do so at this juncture is the problem. The companies that shape the computer markets and policies have not yet been directly impacted, and by and large they dismiss the issue. In time this will change. For now, however, I will content myself with the three or four security firms who have branched out into the computer virus marketplace and with whom I have established a rapport. We can jointly form the foundations for the later entry of the industry giants. " From a sense of responsibility, and to embark with the necessary open forum required for success, I will extend an invitation to all parties that are known to me to be active in the virus field. It is doubtful, however, given the existing antagonism between the various vendors, that I shall have much success at achieving a quorum. In truth, I am counting on the probability that those vendors who would prove embarrassing as members will, for obvious reasons, decline participation. .. " /s/John McAfee" I would like to thank the moderator of this virus forum for providing a means of voicing my viewpoints in what I feel is an important computer virus area. Aryeh Goretsky, Acting Technical Director National BBS Society 1429 Dry Creek Road San Jose, CA 95125-4617 408 265 8499 Kelly Goen/ Cybernetic Systems Specialists Inc. Disclaimer: neither Amdahl Corp nor Onsite consulting offer any representation warranty or guarentees as to the accuracy of the information in this e-mail.