New Virus Bombards Mobile Phones With Junk Calls

Wolfe writes: "We knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened ... I can't wait until our lives and households are completly wired and some jerk sends a virus to my toaster or hacks the coffee machine." Similarly, crovax writes: "A new virus that spams mobile phone users is out. Checkout the story here. This virus that has only been reported in Spain infects a computer then starts generating random mobile phone numbers." I'd hate to be on the Washington Beltway when this hits the D.C. area!

Comments

Re:It's time for a neologism

[orpheus]

I absolutely agree that its important to make the distinction between virus, worm, trojan, etc., it would cut down on confusion, and encourage more background understanding of computers in general.

However, I think it's funny that you suggest "pathogens". In medical school, we had the same problem with distinctions that were generally important (bacteria, protozoa, viruses, worms, other parasites, etc.), but which could be cumbersome when speaking generically. 'Pathogen' wasn't always appropriate either (the same species can be a pathogen in one site, and normal flora in another).

Do you know what we call them, collectively, in the hospital? Bugs.

"Hmmm... Computer bugs?" No, that's already taken...

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All right, who's the wise guy who /.'d the New England Journal of Medicine website tonight? It's up, but it's boggy as hell.