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Why Virus Writers are Useful

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the so-are-mosquitos dept.

man_of_mr_e writes "Security site Zone-h.org has an interview with Professor Samuel D. Forrester, one of the worlds leading immunologists. In this interview he asserts that immunity is built by infection, and without it you would have a much weaker ecosystem. "

4 of 465 comments (clear)

  1. Absolutely!!! by eyegor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Plus, it REALLY helps the bottom line of Symantec and McAfee.

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    Don't anthropomorphize computers, they don't like it.
  2. So by extension... by bc90021 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...criminals are useful because of the increase in security?

    I understand the point, but while response to a negative may bring about a better positive, not having the negative in the first place would, of course, be much better. But then, it's not a perfect world. ;)

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    libertarianswag.com
  3. There are good comparisons, and bad ones by Liselle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comparing computer viruses to the biological sort is a BAD one. Firstly, you have to make a distinction between worms and viruses and such. Secondly, we don't infect new computers with lesser versions of MBLASTER, we patch the vulnerablilty.

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    Auto-reply to ACs: "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."
  4. If it weren't for viruses and blackhats... by cowbutt · · Score: 5, Insightful
    ...the situation would be worse not better. And I say this as a white-hatted security consultant.

    I've reluctantly come to appreciate the role that noisy blackhats and virus authors play in getting organisations to improve their information security infrastructure. If it weren't for them, I feel there would be a thriving underground economy of industrial espionage and personal information theft because it would be so easy. At least with the constant pressure applied by viruses and blackhats, the most gaping security vulnerabilities tend to get fixed, sooner or later (even if a few organisations end up being made examples to the rest).

    Personally, I don't really care about catching virus authors and blackhats. I just care about keeping them out of the machines and networks I've been paid to care about.

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