University Of Calgary To Offer Course On Spam

jrcsnet writes "CBC is reporting that the University of Calgary is going to be adding yet another controversial course (The first, on computer viruses, was covered on Slashdot a while back). According to the article, 'Students will be taught how to write programs that create e-mail spam as well as spy software.' While there must be some benefit for everyone else by creating programs to work against these nuisances, is it worth the risk to the rest of us or even to the potential careers of the graduates of the course?"

Comments

Talk about paranoia

[PxM]

Aycock acknowledges there is a potential for viruses and other malicious software to spread outside the classroom.

He says that's why there are precautions, such as security cameras and a ban on all outside electronic equipment in the classroom.

Each student signs a legal form that says a breach of the security means an automatic "F" and a potential criminal investigation.

I guess they think that there is a high risk that a person will intentionally wreak havoc with the knowledge he learns in that class. Then again, this might just be a publicity thing for the class. I doubt that it's more dangerous than a class on computer security and virus/malware prevention in terms of the risk of damage being done.

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