Return-Path: XPUM04@prime-a.central-services.umist.ac.uk Received: from G.SEI.CMU.EDU by ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu (5.61/2.3) id AA21354; Thu, 7 Jun 90 13:55:20 -0400 Received: from SEI.CMU.EDU by g.sei.cmu.edu (5.61/2.5) id AA14236; Thu, 7 Jun 90 13:55:19 -0400 Received: from nsfnet-relay.ac.uk by sei.cmu.edu (5.61/2.3) id AA02153; Thu, 7 Jun 90 13:55:14 -0400 Received: from sun.nsfnet-relay.ac.uk by vax.NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK via Janet with NIFTP id aa13162; 7 Jun 90 14:56 BST From: Anthony Appleyard To: KRVW <@NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK:KRVW@sei.cmu.edu> Date: Tue, 05 Jun 90 14:01:44 BST Message-Id: <$TGVGDBVHCNWR at UMPA> Subject: Virus-L vol 0 issue #0604 Virus-L Digest Sat, 4 Jun 88, Volume 0 : Issue #0604 Today's Topics Re: forwarded from RISKS... ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Jun 88 20:10:27 PLT Reply-To: Virus Discussion List Sender: Virus Discussion List From: Duane Wessels <22149853@WSUVM1> Subject: Re: forwarded from RISKS... In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 3 Jun 88 15:03:48 EDT from About the teaching of virus-writing... I don't see why the 'assignment' has to be to write a malicious virus. (and maybe it wasn't). Perhaps instead of destroying data, it could just display some little blurb about your disk being infected. No doubt this is very annoying, but it would save data from being destoyed. The author could then be contacted and the virus removed. Concerning the legality of this, perhaps each student could be made responsible for his/her programs by signing a legal document, knowing that any loss of data due to his/her virus is grounds for a lawsuit. It may, however be difficult to prove whose virus did the destroying, especially if the virus 'committed suicide' and erased itself. Another good idea would be to have the students write a 'vaccine' also. Not for their particular virus, but a virus in general. This way, they would learn something more useful and may spend their spare time writing vaccines instead of virus programs. Not having learned how to write a virus in school isn't going to stop anyone who REALLY wants to write one. Its kind of like those guys who got all the necessary information to build a Hydrogen bomb. (What if THAT was taught in college?). The information is out there, it just may take a while longer to find it oneself. --- D. Wessels (22149853@WSUVM1) -------------------- *** end of Virus-L issue ***