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Consumer Reports Creates Viruses to Test Software

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the trial-by-fire dept.

Maximum Prophet writes to mention an MSNBC article about a Consumer Reports plan to test anti-virus software by creating viruses. Security companies are objecting, on the grounds that it's a generally accepted practice not to create viruses for any reason. From the article: "Consumer Reports didn't create thousands of new viruses from scratch. Rather, it took a handful of existing viruses and created hundreds of slight variants, changing the malicious programs just enough to evade detection by an antivirus program with a list of known threats. That's a common trick in the virus writing world; it's standard for a successful virus to inspire dozens of variants. "

10 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. Conspiracy! by susano_otter · · Score: 3, Funny

    Clearly this is all just a cover. The Templars are using Consumer Reports as a cover to train a stable of elite Black Hat hackers, with which to take over the world. They're in a race against Communist China, the Russian Mob, and the NSA.

    --

    Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.

    1. Re:Conspiracy! by darkitecture · · Score: 3, Funny

      Clearly this is all just a cover. The Templars are using Consumer Reports as a cover to train a stable of elite Black Hat hackers, with which to take over the world. They're in a race against Communist China, the Russian Mob, and the NSA.

      They're also in a race against Dom DeLuise, Jamie Farr dressed as The Sheik, Jackie Chan in a Mitsubishi supercar that can go underwater and some babes in a Countach. Wait, I might have that mixed up.

      Anyway, in a post-9/11 world, at least we know they're definitely in a race against terror. Or is that a war against terror? No, that's a war against drugs. Oh I can never remember these things. I should turn on Fox News and let them tell me what we're fighting for again.

    2. Re:Conspiracy! by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 4, Funny
      Even though I'm a Mason (complete with secret decoder ring and everything), I haven't been let in on the conspiracy yet.

      On the other hand, ever notice the hypnotic patterns made by the Shriners in their little cars? Did you really think that NO CARRIER

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  2. Hey, if it's good for AV products... by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Be sure to read our other Consumer Reports articles, where we:
    • Test the efficacy of burglar alarms by attempting to break into consumers' homes,
    • Test the efficacy of the 'morning after' pill by creating unwanted pregnancies,
        - and -
    • Test the skill of your local emergency room doctor by randomly stabbing people outside the hospital.

    Thanks, Consumer Reports. Thanks bunches.
    --
    ____

    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

    1. Re:Hey, if it's good for AV products... by krell · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Test the efficacy of the 'morning after' pill by creating unwanted pregnancies"

      Hey, there has to be something out there that security penetration testers can moonlight in, right?

      --
      Where were you when the voynix came?
  3. Re:Of course they are... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Testing security only emboldens the terrorists!

    Why does Consumer Reports hate America?

  4. Re:Of course they are... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    > IMHO this tic for tac will go on forever.

    Yes, it's one of the French benefits.

  5. Re:Of course they are... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Who won ?

    The viruses.

  6. Re:Of course they are... by Jesus_666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, one of these new virii could leave the laboratory and get into the wild. With a bit of bad luck, that virus could be a dangerous mutation - I'm not talking Melissa dangerous, I'm talking H5N1 dangerous. Just one tiny mutation and the virus could jump over to humans, creating a worldwide pandemia as people's immune sytem collapse, unable of keeping up with polymorphic virii that inject their own code into the header of the genetic sequence so that they're uncleanable without working from known-clean marrow. And you know what could be even worse? Worms. If they add a self-propagation mechanism to their new killer virus it would infect random bystanders without the need for a regular infection vector! Those people aren't developing weapons of mass destruction, they're creating doomsday devices! Somebody must put an end to this before it's too late!

    --
    USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
  7. Re:Of course they are... by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wow, ./ cut off my dummy satire on/off tags.

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning