Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bu-cs!polygen!pablo
From: pablo@polygen.uucp (Pablo Halpern)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: names - viruses and vaccines ....
Message-ID: <135@polygen.UUCP>
Date: 29 Mar 88 00:27:36 GMT
References: <882@unisoft.UUCP>
Organization: Polygen Corporation, Waltham, MA
Lines: 25

paul@unisoft.UUCP (n):
> 
> ANTIBODY - a piece of code designed to prevent the 
> 	   intrusion of VIRUSES or designed to rid a
> 	   system of VIRUSES
> 
> VACCINE  - a public fuss (or paranoia) about the possible
> 	   presence of VIRUSES designed to trigger the
> 	   writing of ANTIBODIES

I don't think so.  In the biological environment, an ANTIBODY is the
body's NATURAL defense against intruders.  A VACCINE is a medical
treatment designed prevent the intrusion of VIRUSES or other other
foreign invaders or to rid the body of invaders, *usually* by
triggering the production of ANTIBODIES.  In a computer system
there is no equivalent to antibodies because computers have no
natural defenses.  Even if you consider security to be a natural
defense, computer vaccines do not work by activating the computer's
security system.  Thus, VACCINE is already used correctly (in
my opinion) and there is no need to refine our definitions.

Pablo Halpern		|	mit-eddie \
Polygen Corp.		|	princeton  \ !polygen!pablo  (UUCP)
200 Fifth Ave.		|	bu-cs      /
Waltham, MA 02254	|	stellar   /