Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!phri!marob!daveh
From: daveh@marob.MASA.COM (Dave Hammond)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Possible Fines for Virus Perpetrator
Keywords: Morris, virus, internet
Message-ID: <362@marob.MASA.COM>
Date: 10 Nov 88 13:31:34 GMT
References: <456@l5comp.UUCP> <440@occrsh.ATT.COM> <312@pte.UUCP>
Reply-To: daveh@marob.masa.com (Dave Hammond)
Distribution: na
Organization: ESCC  New York City
Lines: 32

In article <312@pte.UUCP> car@pte.UUCP (Chris Rende) writes:
>It was not necessary to let the worm/virus loose on the world in order to
><point out> that a problem existed.

I disagree.  There has been much discussion of network infiltration in
the past, but little effort expended on more than discussion.  All too
often the network community relies on rules of fair-play and an assumption
that all net.users are responsible individuals who would not take advantage
of published security faults, because that would be "antisocial" behaviour.

Maybe in Utopia.  But this is the real world and there are countless
agressively enterprenaurial people who would like nothing better than to
take advantage of situations which might further their cause (or career).
Regardless of the resulting implications, and very often *because* of the
implications.

In this instance letting the worm loose on the world has had some immediately
sobering effects.  With any luck, one of the results will be the enhancement
of the BSD network user interface.

I do NOT advocate tighter network access or withholding important information.
I DO advocate increased file system and path search security.

While his style tends to be a bit radical, I whole-heartedly agree with
weemba@garnet.berkeley.edu (Obnoxious Math Grad Student) who expressed
an interest in seeing Mr. Morris reexecute his worm on a monthly basis
until it no longer succeeds.

Dave Hammond
  UUCP: ...!uunet!masa.com!{marob,dsix2}!daveh
DOMAIN: daveh@marob.masa.com
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