🚀 go-pugleaf

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!

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