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From: XPUM04@prime-a.central-services.umist.ac.uk (Anthony Appleyard)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: AF/91 and April Foolism in general
Message-ID: <0014.9104161744.AA06733@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 12 Apr 91 08:46:16 GMT
Sender: Virus Discussion List <VIRUS-L@LEHIIBM1>
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Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu

In Virus-L vol4 #059 sharp@mizar.usc.edu (Malcolm Sharp) wrote:-
Subject: AF/91 - John Gantz "joke" in Infoworld

In the April 1, 1991 issue of Infoworld, John Gantz  in  his  column  "Tech
Street" warned of a virus called "AF/91" which he said was developed by the
NSA  to be used against Iraqi defense computers. After describing the virus
and telling that it started spreading uncontrolled, he told that  windowing
technology  was  "doomed."  In  the  same  issue, columnist Robert Cringely
discussed Windows 3.0 vulnerability to viruses saying it "has lots of holes
for custom viruses to slip through."

In the April 8 issue, Mr. Gantz's  column  begins  with  a  note  from  the
Editors  saying  AF/91  was  all an April Fools joke. I'm not laughing. I'm
searching for the adjectives to describe  this  irresponsible  act.  Anyone
else  spend  time  investigating  this  virus  from  the  4/1  columns? I'm
*seriously* considering a class action suit for compensatory (small $)  and
punitive (BIG $$$) damages. Interested in hearing from others.
........................................
In Virus-L vol4 #606 johnboyd@logdis1.oc.aflc.af.mil (John Boyd;CRENP)
Subject: Re: AF/91 - John Gantz joke in Infoworld
wrote to say "can't you take a joke?".
........................................
In reply to these, I say this. Jokes can only be allowed to go so far.  Too
often  people  try  to cap each other's jokes and go too far and cause much
unfunny nuisance. Ref what someone in my scubadiving club said after a bout
of trouble: "Practical jokes: they occur in the Army, and sooner  or  later
[they  lead  to]  violence.". April Foolism, in the computer virus field as
elsewhere,  like  other  hoaxes,  waste  time  and  attention;  they  cause
annoyance;  much time can be wasted; people miss things and drive miles and
raise alerts. OK, if carefully read the hoax  is  clear.  But  busy  people
haven't  always  got the time and attention to spare to study everything in
depth. Ref e.g. the amount of hoaxes that are  believed  despite  including
the  giveaway  supposed name "Lirpa Loof". And serious matter does arise on
April 1st as on other days. On April 1st computer users have  enough  extra
to  cope  with  having to beware of the various viruses and logic bombs etc
that silly other people set to 'go off' on April 1st. And serious  messages
published on April 1st are sometimes taken as hoaxes. Enough nuisance. (One
common  example  is  joke  April  1st messages such as "Ring Mr.C.Lion" and
"Ring Mr.L.E.Fant" and "Ring Mr.G.Raff" etc, and the phone number given  is
a  zoo's. Not very funny for switchboard girls at zoos getting thousands of
junk phone calls every April 1st on top of  their  usual  work,  and  zoos'
switchboards  are blocked, unfunny nuisance unlimited.) Responsible editors
should exclude hoaxes on April 1st as on other days,  and  take  the  usual
action  against the authors of any that get part them into reputable print.
........................................
PS. Was Robert Cringely's article about Windows 3.0 serious or a hoax?
........................................
{A.Appleyard} (email: APPLEYARD@UK.AC.UMIST), Fri, 12 Apr 91 09:02:12 BST