TechNewsWorld Talkback

Re: Can Lessons from the Common Cold Help Us Defeat Computer Viruses?
Posted by: Paul Korzeniowski 2004-02-26 09:34:22

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Through the years, some malicious computer programs have come to be known as viruses. Dr. Fred Cohen, a principal analyst with market research firm Burton Group, coined the term when he was working as a graduate student at the University of Southern California in the early 1980s. "There was a resemblance in how computer viruses and biological viruses reproduced," he told TechNewsWorld. Given that similarity, a question has arisen recently: Can the study of human viruses be helpful to computer scientists, who are trying to prevent the next MyDoom from wreaking havoc?

Re: Can Lessons from the Common Cold Help Us Defeat Computer Viruses?
Posted by: kmduncan 2004-02-26 09:50:13 In reply to: Paul Korzeniowski

*** Quote ***
David Perry... thinks this process is one area in which the analogy between biological and computer viruses breaks down. "A biological virus mutates by itself, but a computer virus does not have that ability,". "Without a hacker changing code, it will quickly be rendered impotent."
*** Unquote ***
esp wrt "Without a hacker changing the code."... surely this is part of the mutation process? How can anyone rule it out?
I am no biologist but I feel there are parameters (perhaps unknown? / not yet detected) which cause viruses to mutate...
e.g. take away the host cell.. the virus can not replicate.
- take away the hacker... the virust can not replicate.
I would suggest there are similarities. Although I will be first to admit I know very little about biological virus.
;-)