Sicko or Pshcho ?

[ravisunny2]

What kind of a sick person creates a computer virus ?

With all the sophistication available today, can’t the origin of a new virus be tracked down ?

And, if a person is convicted of having created a virus (playfully or spitefully), what legal action can be taken ?

I have heard rumors that some ‘anti-Microsoft group’ is/was primarily responsible.

I’ve even heard that the companies that create the ‘cure’, ‘create their own market’.

Can anyone claim with conviction that their system is virus free ?

Is it possible that the ISP do real time monitoring of viruses ( or are they already doing it ineffectively ???) ?

What an enormous waste of valuable computing time it is in real time virus monitoring !

 

[Nodsu]

What kind of a sick person creates a computer virus ?

The same kind of person that creates murder weapons, nuclear bombs, bacterial weapons? In one word, humans..

With all the sophistication available today, can’t the origin of a new virus be tracked down ?

No, unless the author is really stupid. There are plenty of clueless users whose infected Windows machines can be used as a launch pad that can be completely wiped clean after the launch.

And, if a person is convicted of having created a virus (playfully or spitefully), what legal action can be taken ?

Thay can be put to jail.

I have heard rumors that some ‘anti-Microsoft group’ is/was primarily responsible.

Responsible for what?

I’ve even heard that the companies that create the ‘cure’, ‘create their own market’.

That depends..

Can anyone claim with conviction that their system is virus free ?

Of course.

Is it possible that the ISP do real time monitoring of viruses ( or are they already doing it ineffectively ???) ?

It is possible and it is done to some extent (e-mail for example). Analyzing the contents of all traffic is very expensive though and it is very easy to conceal malicious content. Imagine password-protected zip files or encrypted connections for example.

What an enormous waste of valuable computing time it is in real time virus monitoring !

I'd say pornography, gossip, interaction with "friends", misconfigured systems, screensavers, wallpapers and skins consume much, much more processing power

 

[ravisunny2]

Continued..

The same kind of person that creates murder weapons, nuclear bombs, bacterial weapons? In one word, humans..

Hitler was ‘human’ too. … in the same tone as ‘milk of human kindness’

No, unless the author is really stupid. There are plenty of clueless users whose infected Windows machines can be used as a launch pad that can be completely wiped clean after the launch.

I was referring to a brand new virus.

Thay can be put to jail.

Good.

Responsible for what?

For creating the virus.

That depends..

Diplomatic.

Of course.

Somehow, I’m not convinced!

It is possible and it is done to some extent (e-mail for example). Analyzing the contents of all traffic is very expensive though and it is very easy to conceal malicious content. Imagine password-protected zip files or encrypted connections for example

Point well made.

I'd say pornography, gossip, interaction with "friends", misconfigured systems, screensavers, wallpapers and skins consume much, much more processing power

The above kinds of waste are ‘almost’ excusable, compared to the time wasted in real time scanning.

 

[SNGX1275]

Here you go, I spent a few minutes digging through search results to find this post:
Inside the Head of a Virus Writer

 

[ravisunny2]

Thank you for the link, SNGX1275.

But I still haven't figured out which is more appropriate : Sicko or Psycho.

 

[halo71]

Very interesting read there!! I must either be protected well or simply dont go to certain websites because I dont think I have ever been infected with a virus. Sure plenty of adware and the like but no real issues come to mind over the years...