Open Source Self-Healing Software For Virtual Machines

An anonymous reader writes Computer scientists have developed Linux based software that not only detects and eradicates never-before-seen viruses and other malware, but also automatically repairs damage caused by them. If a virus or attack stops the service, A3 could repair it in minutes without having to take the servers down. The software then prevents the invader from ever infecting the computer again. "It's pretty cool when you can pick the Bug of the Week and it works." (Here's a paper with more details.)

Comments

Immune system for operating systems?

[Archtech]

The analogy is a big stretch, as it would take a very long time and huge effort to approach the unbelievably complex sophistication of the immune system. But the outlines are there: software that detects previously unknown threats, quickly mobilizes to defeat them, and then stands guard against each (now known) threat in future.

Re:Immune system for operating systems?

[__aaclcg7560]

As a security remediation specialist, I doubt I'll be out of the job anytime soon in repairing systems that won't update on their own. Software can only do so much before it requires carbon-based intervention to fix.

Re:Wrong approach

[Archtech]

Er, did you realize that vaccination and other forms of inoculation consist of injecting a small sample of the bacterium, virus, etc. to give the immune system a smell of it? Then the immune system tools up and is ready for the full-scale infection if it occurs.

One of the many nice things about A3 is that (optionally) sysadmins could emulate inoculation by handing specific details of threats directly to A3 instead of waiting for it to detect them itself. That would eliminate delay and enable A3 to be lined up on the border with tank divisions, a howitzer every 2 yards, and millions of men when the invasion starts.

As we say in help desk, get rid of users...

[__aaclcg7560]

Once the operating system can self-heal, evolve into an A.I., and network itself across the Internet, getting rid of the carbon-based units will be the next step in self-healing.