Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!gatech!mcnc!ece-csc!ncrcae!ncr-sd!crash!pnet01!haitex
From: haitex@pnet01.cts.com (Wade Bickel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Viruses and Stolen Software
Message-ID: <2274@crash.cts.com>
Date: 5 Jan 88 12:56:59 GMT
Sender: news@crash.cts.com
Organization: People-Net [pnet01], El Cajon CA
Lines: 53

rminnich@udel.EDU (Ron Minnich) writes:
>The issue of viruses has brought up the whole issue of stolen software.
>Someone has claimed that you only get the virus if you steal software.
>I hope that misapprehension has been laid to rest by the many stories
>of people who have gotten hurt and who have NOT stolen software. 
>I guess i am thick but i still do not see how the virus mongering
>protects against software theft. Are people shipping these viruses
>in production software as a way of protecting themselves? If so then 
>the companies involved should be boycotted. If not then what 

          As far as I have been able to tell, no body has received commercial
        software with the virus on it.  This may be wrong, but no one has
        yet claimed to have received such.

          Since you must place an infected disk in your drive AND boot with
        it in order to infect your system, I cannot see how SO MANY people
        got it SO FAST, unless they were stealing software.  I think it is
        fair to say that more than 90% of the infections occured as a 
        result of piracy.  If it were'nt for the other 10% or less, I would
        commend the virus and it's writer.  As it is, they deserve curses.

          As far as punishing virus writers, I agree, with the exception of
        SCA.  My reasons for excludeing them are as follows

                1)  The letter is an apology, and I for one beleive they
                      did not intend to create such a furor.

                2)  SCA did send C= info which should help them to deal with
                      the virus.

                3)  Clearly, had SCA wanted, their virus could have been alot
                      nastier and been made alot more infectious.

                4)  The virus problem would have cropped up eventually and
                      this virus has put us on our gaurd.

        As far as how they should be punished, criminal prosecution should be
        used when possible.  Perhaps a fund should be established by us users
        and the companies who have a stake in this machine, which would be
        used to find and prosecute these individuals.  Software pirates, 
        especially BBSs should also be targets of this fund.  Just having to
        defend themselves from the legal system will be a strong penalty, even
        if they are not convicted!


                                                          Thanks,


                                                                Wade.

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