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Why Virus Writers are Useful
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. "
SyS64738
08/25/2003
The title is obviously a provocation. I am considered a balanced personality but sometimes, I like to stretch things to the extreme and to provoke reactions. This article is one of my rare attempts to provoke you... or not?
Today, after the alarm caused by the fast diffusion of the Sobig virus, we are all talking about the reasons why virus writers are coding more and more viruses.
"They should stop, somebody stop them!" I hear all the time but... is this right?
We try to answer to this question with an interview with Professor Samuel D. Forrester, one of the most famous immunologists in the world. Dr. Forrester is on the run this year to get the Nobel Prize for his recent discovery of the mechanisms of aggression of over-reacting immune cells and antibodies. He teaches at the Immunology faculty at the Konigsberg University since 1986.
Zone-H: ZH
Professor Samuel D. Forrester: SDF
ZH: Thanks for having accepted to release an interview to Zone-H
SDF: Thank you, even if it is quite unusual to be interviewed by a computer security website.
ZH: Dr. Forrester, can you tell us what is the branch of the immunology?
SDF: Immunology is the study of the complex and sophisticated immune system. The immune system is a network of cells and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by "foreign" invaders or germs. The body provides an excellent environment for germs. When they do break into a system, it is the immune system's job to keep them out or to seek and destroy them.
ZH: What is the job of the immunologist?
SDF: Clinical immunologists research new tests and treatments involving allergic and immunologic disorders of the immune system. They work with physicians in general practice and in hospital-based specialties to treat diseases using complex and sophisticated clinical techniques. The science of clinical immunology is a fast developing area of the medical profession. The role of the immunologist is increasingly important, both in laboratory work and in patient care.
ZH: Have you heard about the recent Sobig-F virus deployment?
SDF: Yes, I read something on the newspapers. Even if computer science is not my science, the topic of the computer viruses is obviously of my interest. See, many aspects of the traditional immunology and the computer viruses are in common.
ZH: And this is the reason why Zone-H wanted this interview.... Dr. Forrester, what do you think about computer viruses, what do you know about them?
SDF: Computer viruses are exactly like the normal viruses. They can kill you if your immune system doesn't work, but at the same time, your body should thank them if your immune system is today capable to protect you from deadly illnesses.
ZH: Can you please develop the concept?
SDF: It's simple: every time you get a cold, you sneeze. But you could die, actually. The only reason why you don't die is because your immune system has been programmed to react to the "threat" posed by a germ. It's a paradox, but it's the same germ that could kill you that trained your immune system to react when invaded.
ZH: And what makes the difference? How is it possible that a germ can kill you and the same germ can train your immune system making you stronger?
SDF: It's just a matter of doses. Like with wine, one glass every day makes your heart stronger and lowers your blood pressure, one bottle every day can kill you. This is the concept on which vaccines are based.
ZH: We understand that. Can we stretch the concept saying that a constant flow of germs, if received in the proper dose, makes the body actually stronger?
SDF: Absolutely. If hypothetically we could take two newborn twins and put one of them under a glass-dome and the other one straight into the dangers of the real world, guess who would
"I can not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presents danger, the solution is ignorance" - Isaac Asimov
Why computer virus writers are useful and we should thank them.
SyS64738
08/25/2003
The title is obviously a provocation. I am considered a balanced personality but sometimes, I like to stretch things to the extreme and to provoke reactions. This article is one of my rare attempts to provoke you... or not?
Today, after the alarm caused by the fast diffusion of the Sobig virus, we are all talking about the reasons why virus writers are coding more and more viruses.
"They should stop, somebody stop them!" I hear all the time but... is this right?
We try to answer to this question with an interview with Professor Samuel D. Forrester, one of the most famous immunologists in the world. Dr. Forrester is on the run this year to get the Nobel Prize for his recent discovery of the mechanisms of aggression of over-reacting immune cells and antibodies. He teaches at the Immunology faculty at the Konigsberg University since 1986.
Zone-H: ZH
Professor Samuel D. Forrester: SDF
ZH: Thanks for having accepted to release an interview to Zone-H
SDF: Thank you, even if it is quite unusual to be interviewed by a computer security website.
ZH: Dr. Forrester, can you tell us what is the branch of the immunology?
SDF: Immunology is the study of the complex and sophisticated immune system. The immune system is a network of cells and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by "foreign" invaders or germs. The body provides an excellent environment for germs. When they do break into a system, it is the immune system's job to keep them out or to seek and destroy them.
ZH: What is the job of the immunologist?
SDF: Clinical immunologists research new tests and treatments involving allergic and immunologic disorders of the immune system. They work with physicians in general practice and in hospital-based specialties to treat diseases using complex and sophisticated clinical techniques. The science of clinical immunology is a fast developing area of the medical profession. The role of the immunologist is increasingly important, both in laboratory work and in patient care.
ZH: Have you heard about the recent Sobig-F virus deployment?
SDF: Yes, I read something on the newspapers. Even if computer science is not my science, the topic of the computer viruses is obviously of my interest. See, many aspects of the traditional immunology and the computer viruses are in common.
ZH: And this is the reason why Zone-H wanted this interview.... Dr. Forrester, what do you think about computer viruses, what do you know about them?
SDF: Computer viruses are exactly like the normal viruses. They can kill you if your immune system doesn't work, but at the same time, your body should thank them if your immune system is today capable to protect you from deadly illnesses.
ZH: Can you please develop the concept?
SDF: It's simple: every time you get a cold, you sneeze. But you could die, actually. The only reason why you don't die is because your immune system has been programmed to react to the "threat" posed by a germ. It's a paradox, but it's the same germ that could kill you that trained your immune system to react when invaded.
ZH: And what makes the difference? How is it possible that a germ can kill you and the same germ can train your immune system making you stronger?
SDF: It's just a matter of doses. Like with wine, one glass every day makes your heart stronger and lowers your blood pressure, one bottle every day can kill you. This is the concept on which vaccines are based.
ZH: We understand that. Can we stretch the concept saying that a constant flow of germs, if received in the proper dose, makes the body actually stronger?
SDF: Absolutely. If hypothetically we could take two newborn twins and put one of them under a glass-dome and the other one straight into the dangers of the real world, guess who would survive in case of a serious plague?
ZH: The