🚀 go-pugleaf

"Eric Minso" <minso@altern.org> wrote in message
news:7db38e60.0308280508.6205dd69@posting.google.com...
> "Alex McDonald" <alex_mcd@btopenworld.com> wrote in message news:
> > > No, they are not in the virus business.
> > > They just want to develop themselve their protection program (and own
> > > the source code).
> >
> > What advantage does this bring them?
>
> That's simple : owning a source code allows you to modify it as you
> want, when you want.
>

But your code is still vulnerable to hackers with debuggers. Protecting your
intellectual property needs to be done without using this incredibly
dangerous development technique.

> > > My boss said that it is a way that should be explored.
> > > I am just a trainee :-)
> >
> > Owning a handgun is illegal in the UK; it's no defence to suggest you're
> > just taking it apart to make a pencil holder. Ask for another project.
>
> It is illegal to create and release new viruses.
>
> What is a virus ? A program that duplicates itself and infests other
> computers in order to do nasty tasks without acceptance of the user.

Wrong. Some of the most succesful are propagated by people like us, through
email and general unhygenic file-swapping habits. Self-duplication has got
nothing to do with it. How about Nachi -- hey, it tried to fix things! Still
a virus though.

>
> I'm not creating a virus.
> I will not release a virus.
>
> Is it also illegal in the UK to know how work handguns ?
>
>
> > > Why ? I do nothing illegal ! I am NOT developing a new virus.
> >
> > I disagree.
>
> I don't understand why.
> Look at the definition of a virus.
>
>
> > > I am
> > > looking for a way to protect an EXE file. When I looked for examples
> > > on the internet, the only examples I found were virus-related.
> >
> > That's because you _are_ writing a new virus.
>
> I disagree.
> Look at the definition of a virus.
>
>
> > > Now, if you have any other idea for protecting executables, I will be
> > > happy to have it.
> > >
> >
> > I know how to; I'm not posting the answer.
>
>
> > Take a course at the University
> > of Calgary; then if you're lucky only the University and your boss will
get
> > sued when your company issues your code.
> > http://antivirus.about.com/library/weekly/aa052303b.htm
>
> Sued ?
> About which crime please ?
>

I know you think you're not writing a virus, but you're certainly going
about it like you are.

Look, your boss suggests, or you go off on your own bat, & pick up some
junky bits of code off a virus web site or ftp server. Then you modify it
and then spread it around with your commercial products. You're having
trouble with relative/absolute addressing; I defy you to understand what
some viruses get up to, and the incredible lengths virus writers go to in
making their code difficult to spot by virus scanners, which makes it
difficult to read. How do you know what you've done? Leave _anything_ that
claims to be a virus alone. And if I was your bosses' boss, I'd fire you and
him _right now_ for even allowing you to visit these sites, far less
suggesting it. Knowing how infectious some viruses can be and the
maliciousness of these dead-heads, you'll probably end up infecting your
entire company in a couple of hours after downloading some "virus-writing"
software, and the rest of us get infected by you a few days later. And your
customers will sue the pants off you if you drop some of the malicious crap
that's out there on them on your latest product CDs. Don't go there.

Read the faqs on alt.comp.virus at
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/computer-virus/alt-faq/.

"Some of the grounds on which virus writing or distribution may be
found to be illegal (obviously I'm not stating that all these grounds
will apply at all times in all states or countries!) include:
...
* Incitement (e.g. making available viruses, virus code, information
  on writing viruses, and virus engines)
..."

So I didn't, and you shouldn't either.

One thing I will give you; you asked first. I've been burned by viruses far
too often, both privately and commercially.
Now you know (know how I feel, anyhow), perhaps you'll reconsider. End of
rant.

-- 
Regards
Alex McDonald