Xref: utzoo comp.sys.atari.st:14836 comp.sys.apple:11308 comp.sys.mac:28850 comp.sys.ibm.pc:26412 Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ukma!xanth!lll-winken!uunet!snjsn1!bilbo!greg From: greg@bilbo (Greg Wageman) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Virus 101: Chapter 3 Message-ID: <763@snjsn1.SJ.ATE.SLB.COM> Date: 21 Mar 89 19:48:12 GMT References: <4035@ttidca.TTI.COM> <11179@ut-emx.UUCP> <72298@ti-csl.csc.ti.com> <15976@cup.portal.com> Sender: news@SJ.ATE.SLB.COM Reply-To: greg@sj.ate.slb.com (Greg Wageman) Organization: Schlumberger ATE, San Jose, CA Lines: 62 In article <15976@cup.portal.com> Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com writes: >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.. > [Description of plain-jane users deleted] >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... This attitude is reprehensible, in that it implicitly assumes that none of these people are interested in LEARNING something about the machines they use. EVERYONE was a BEGINNER at some time. The way you become something else is by READING TECHNICAL INFORMATION, such as these postings. Witholding this or ANY information is a TOTALITARIAN concept and is contrary to the principles of a FREE SOCIETY. Who are YOU to decide what knowledge is "dangerous"? WHO MADE YOU THE OFFICIAL NETWORK CENSOR? What do you do next, post a list of books to burn? >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... You evidently don't know anyone who is "all thumbs". I don't think my 70-year old Aunt could do it, either, even if she had the proper tools, which she doesn't. BUT, she can HIRE SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT, once she knows what she wants done! This is certainly true of your uneducated plain-vanilla users. THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT THEY NEED UNLESS SOMEONE PUBLISHES THE INFORMATION. >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 will help by making anti-viral programs as widespread as some viruses. >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.. It isn't "easy to figure out" if your mind doesn't work that way. This information shows us how a virus-writer's mind works, and lets us write more effective defenses. First lesson in a war: KNOW YOUR ENEMY! Longish .signature follows. Skip now, or don't complain! Greg Wageman DOMAIN: greg@sj.ate.slb.com Schlumberger Technologies UUCP: ...!uunet!sjsca4!greg 1601 Technology Drive BIX: gwage San Jose, CA 95110-1397 CIS: 74016,352 (408) 437-5198 GEnie: G.WAGEMAN ------------------ Opinions expressed herein are solely the responsibility of the author. (And the author wouldn't have it any other way.)