Assessing Internet Viruses Like Human Epidemics

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Assessing Internet Viruses Like Human Epidemics

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Thursday September 23, 2004 @02:53PM from the beating-the-spread dept.

underpar writes "This ComputerWorld.com article discusses the UCSD's $6.2 million attempt to study Internet viruses in a manner similar to the study of human epidemics. Stefan Savage, a computer science professor, is quoted in the article as saying, 'We'll be focused on what vectors are used, just like in assessing West Nile, to spread computer viruses and ultimately try to develop defenses to prevent them from spreading.'"

17 of 171 comments (clear)

Too easy by MuckSavage · 2004-09-23 14:55 · Score: 5, Funny

"...just like in assessing West Nile, to spread computer viruses and ultimately try to develop defenses to prevent them from spreading.'"

Ummm, don't use windows?

Sorry, had to say it.
STD's by Fred+Foobar · 2004-09-23 14:58 · Score: 5, Funny

Computer virusen are actually like STD's. Windows has sex like crazy without any protection, and of course Linux doesn't have sex at all, just like its users. :)

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It was a really good paper.
1. Re:STD's by BigZaphod · 2004-09-23 15:36 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Well that's easy... The Mac community is like a party at the Playboy mansion. There might be a lot of people there, but they are all of a certain higher standard and have a set of "unwritten" rules of behavior that the outsiders don't understand (hence their not being invited). So they can have lots of fun sex-play, but not so much actual sex as Windows - and yet everyone else wants in on the party under the impression that it is SAFE non-stop sex and drugs, when in reality it is non-stop stripping and lap dances while being high on caffeine pills.
  
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  Hexy - a strategy game for iPhone/iPod Touch
The problem with the metaphor... by halivar · 2004-09-23 15:00 · Score: 5, Funny

This hardly seems like a novel idea. Isn't the whole calling a computer virus a "virus" supposed to help us understand it in a biological/human way?

I don't like likening malicious computer use to biology. If we call Sasser a "virus", then we would likewise have to call port-scanning a "forcible proctology exam".

You don't want to know what buffer-overflow exploits would be called...
I dont know if its such a good analogy. by nmoog · 2004-09-23 15:01 · Score: 4, Funny

It will amount to the equivilent of "the virus seems to be spreading because mankind has taken to licking diseased rats. Also, the new trend of sneezing directly into each others mouths also appears to account for some of the outbreak..."
Apples to Oranges by Katz_is_a_moron · 2004-09-23 15:02 · Score: 5, Funny

If humans were susceptible to as many viruses as Windows, we would all be dead.
Re:Why West Nile? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-23 15:05 · Score: 5, Funny

some, based on location and lifestyle (OS) have very little chance of infection at all.

Thus explaining why people who use Linux and people who never get laid tend to be the same people.
Hello??? by fred911 · 2004-09-23 15:05 · Score: 2, Funny

$6.2 million ?????? $6.2 million ??????

It better be a sucess not an attempt!

Where have our values gone?

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Re:Why West Nile? by aussie_a · 2004-09-23 15:13 · Score: 2, Funny

Are you saying I can contract aids from my hand? I better get out the latex gloves then...
Re:Interesting Academic Exercise by aussie_a · 2004-09-23 15:16 · Score: 2, Funny

I don't even rely on the last one and I've been virus free for the past 9 years!

Or so you think
Two words by unixbum · 2004-09-23 15:36 · Score: 5, Funny

Natural Selection.

If only this applied to computers :)
Re:Fixes by hunterx11 · 2004-09-23 15:37 · Score: 2, Funny

We all know how smallpox spreads. We do not know how to cure it.
In computer terms, however, we pwnt teh shit out of smallpox.

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English is easier said than done.
Sounds familiar... by Napoleon440 · 2004-09-23 15:37 · Score: 2, Funny

"...and we shall call it Skynet."
Re:Distinction... by Fred+Foobar · 2004-09-23 17:51 · Score: 2, Funny

Then what? Reincarnation?

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It was a really good paper.
Re:Interesting Academic Exercise by aussie_a · 2004-09-23 18:33 · Score: 2, Funny

It's insightful cause the mods are idiots? It was an attempt at Funny. I've given up on trying to get modded appropriately. If I get a mod whether it be -1 Flame-bait or whatever I'm happy cause it means at least SOMEONE read my post.
What a setup by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-23 18:34 · Score: 1, Funny

Thus explaining why people who use Linux and people who never get laid tend to be the same people.

And why Windows users are getting fucked constantly.
if we're going to use analogy- then by way2trivial · 2004-09-24 00:25 · Score: 2, Funny

we're comparing human virus and computer virus, and that makes Microsoft the mucus membranes... right?

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every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random