Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!gatech!udel!burdvax!kleonard
From: kleonard@PRC.Unisys.COM (Ken Leonard --> kleonard@gvlv2@prc.unisys.com)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: SUGGESTIONS....
Message-ID: <5538@burdvax.PRC.Unisys.COM>
Date: 19 Feb 88 16:02:35 GMT
References: <495@psu-cs.UUCP> <4626@ecsvax.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Unisys Defense Systems, Sec. Sys. PMO, Paoli, Pa.
Lines: 43

In article <4626@ecsvax.UUCP> mvolo@ecsvax.UUCP (Michael R. Volow) writes:
>In article <495@psu-cs.UUCP>, alexc@psu-cs.UUCP (Alex M. Chan.) writes:
>>...future if anyone wanted to post any programs on the net, only post the
>>SOURCE code and all the necessary infomation to compile the programs.
>This would not help us non-programmers or non-compilers owners in...
>How about trying to find out where the viruses are coming from?  No...
>...ought to have some idea!!  You can post hundreds of repetitive mess-
>ages about paying or not paying for shareware.  How about a little
>group epidemiology investigating the origin of virus programs.  They
>are as destructive to shareware as a few non-paying users.
>Michael Volow, M.D.

Dear Dr. Volow;

It seems to me that you hugely UNDERSTATE the case.

The simple (not necessarily simply derived, but simple in statement of
conclusion) is that covert (i.e. not fully disclosed to every recipient)
distribution of ANY "virus" or "worm" or "gotcha" in ANY program having
an ostensible useful (including purely recreational) purpose is BOTH a criminal
offense and a cause for compensatory and punitive civil action.

The underlying principle, well supported by precedent, in the Common Law and
in the code of (at least) every State of the U.S., and in the U.S. Code (in
matters of Interstate Commerce) is that:  If you give to me, for consideration
or none, anything which will, unbeknownst to me, cause me harm or discomfort,
then you are both a criminal and an offender against the civil order.

No, dear Nit-Pickers, the derivation of this conclusion is not trivial, and
is not supportable by simplistic analogy to "giving poisoned candy to a baby."

So come on, fellow hackers, let us get off our ego trips long enough to stop
defecating in our own nest.  If anyone knows the origin of any such dreck,
let her or him say so, and say where and who that origin is.  If we don't
help to clean up these messes, we will, most deservedly, eventually catch
a massive backlash.  How would we like to see BITNET, CSNET, and all of
the other wonders of open net-land closed and locked against us?

Regardz,                                      [Engineering:  The Art of Science]
Ken Leonard
---                                                                          ---
This represents neither my employer's opinion nor my own:  It's just something
I overheard in a low-class bar down by the docks.