Xref: utzoo comp.sys.atari.st:14754 comp.sys.apple:11171 comp.sys.mac:28686 comp.sys.ibm.pc:26296
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!Bob_BobR_Retelle
From: Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Virus 101: Chapter 3
Message-ID: <15976@cup.portal.com>
Date: 18 Mar 89 21:51:47 GMT
References: <4035@ttidca.TTI.COM> <11179@ut-emx.UUCP> <72298@ti-csl.csc.ti.com>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 31

Fred Hollander writes:
 
>By publishing known methods used by computer viruses, people can write
>software to detect, kill or prevent viruses.

 *What* people...?   You..?  Me...?   Maybe..
 
What about the guy trying to run a small office on a PC, who doesn't even
know what a "compiler" is, and doesn't want to...?
 
What about a teacher keeping grades and lesson plans, to whom "boot sector"
means about as much as "dlch hksptl"..?
 
None of this "Virus" information is likely to enable THEM to write their
own protection...  indeed, it's hardly likely that it will even REACH
them...     AND...    the danger is, they may not even be  ABLE  to obtain
"virus killers", or perhaps even know they're available...
 
The analogy of protecting against burglers just doesn't work..  ANYONE
can go to the store and buy a deadbolt lock, and probably install it
successfully...
 
Telling someone how to break into a house MAY enable them to more efficiently
protect their own house, but it's NOT likely that broadcasting information
about how viruses work will help the LARGE MAJORITY of computer users...
 
It's easy to figure out how to break into a house...  writing a virus will
need detailed information, all distilled down into a neat package... like
these postings..

BobR