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From: mlab2@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: A modest proposal...
Message-ID: <27013.27483646@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 20 Nov 90 00:45:09 GMT
References: <1990Nov13.112340.13107@warwick.ac.uk> <2274@key.COM> <10490@ur-cc.UUCP> <1990Nov19.033747.29163@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services
Lines: 52

Here's a dilemna...

Consider an anti-virus virus.  The Mac community has a number of excellent
virus detection and repair programs available commercially and in the public
domain.  Unfortunately, there are far too many people who are naive with regard
to viruses and/or do not practice safe computing.  A virus whose sole intention
was to propagate and eradicate the more virile strains affecting the Mac
community might seem an effective solution.

Let me say a few things up front so as to circumvent a lot of flames and
confusion.  I have not written such a beast, have never written a virus, do not
have the know-how to create any such virus, and would not write a virus -
however benevolent.  I would niether encourage the creation of such a virus.  I
propose this as more of an intellectual dilemna for debate.  When both sides
are considered - cooly - there are some interesting arguments to support such a
beast.  I do feel however that discussion of such an organism should not be
hushed net (as it has been suggested regarding topics of "hacking" and the
removal of copy-protection schemes).

The point of view I speak from.  I work at an under-funded computer lab on a
university campus.  The MDEF and nVIR viruses have been particularly rampant of
late.  The typical user has no concept of the computer virus and come merely to
type up their term papers.  Unfortunately, they are probably the primary
carriers (unwittingly) of the viruses.  We don't have money for hard drives on
all our Macs, so virus-protecting INIT's and other system 'baggage' have to be
kept to a minumum.  I can see no end to the proliferation of viruses.

A "travelling" virus eradicator occurred to me (as it has probably occurred to
others).  It would not require the user to "manually" check their disks.  It
would check to see that no more than one copy of itself resides on a disk.  It
would have an expiration date (read off the Mac clock - say, 1992) at which
time it would erase itself.  It would be small (say, less than 10K if
possible).  It would not attatch itself to applications or files (perhaps it
would simply make itself invisible - a lame camouflage, but sufficient
considering the users it is targeted to serve).

Problems?  The ethical one of course.  That is, "No program or code shall copy
itself from one medium to another without the consent, knowledge, and approval
of the user."  The only other problem I foresee is one of poor programing -
incompatibility with existing systems, software, or machines - and
incompatibility with future versions of systems, software and machines.  A
final thought - the possibility that someone with less benevolant intent would
modify it to destructive ends.

Please, if you e-mail me, I can't reply.  I STILL haven't figured out the mail
here.  I can read but can't reply.  (I think there's a file missing in my
account).  Well, now that I've opened THIS can of worms up...

john calhoun