Viruses

 Key Terms and Concepts: computer virus, infected software, bugs, anti-virus, virus hoax,
Melissa, I Love You

 Who wants the flu? No one of course, but the flu still comes around every winter and year the flu is slightly different. Many people get shots as protection from the flu, especially older people or those with health problems.
The flu is a perfect example of a virus that can get people very sick.

A virus is a living organism that is communicated from one person to the other in a couple ofways:
1. The infected person with the flu bug (virus) touches other persons thus infecting them, or
2. A flu virus is carried through the air and it is inhaled, infecting more people, The closed air of airplanes and subways spreads the flu easily.

You have also heard about computer viruses, and they work in a similar way. One computer infected with a virus can then infect one or a hundred other computers.

Computer viruses are spread in a number of ways:
Using or sharing 'infected software diskettes or CDs, especially bootleg (illegal) copies of software.

Downloading infected software from the Internet or from private BBSs (Bulletin Board Services) and running it on your computer.

The most common way that computer viruses are spread today is through e-mail and especially e-mail attachments.

Not all viruses are dangerous. What makes a virus harmful is its payload. A payload is what the virus does once 'it infects a computer. Some virus payloads merely make your computer screen look funny, or add characters, words or messages to it - more annoying than dangerous.

Virus writers think this is funny. However, even supposedly harmless viruses, often cause trouble. They may have mistakes ("bugs") that make them do unexpected things, which have the same effect as a malicious virus.

Other computer viruses can erase the critical pieces of your hard disk, making all of your hard work unusable. Yet others steal your passwords or clog networks by sending tons of useless messages to everyone 'in your e-mail address book. You never know what the virus writers come up with.


The effects of computer viruses have cost billions of dollars 'in the U.S. and around the world and it seems as if the problem will just not go away. The best defense against computer viruses is to use a good Anti-Virus (A/V) program (see Resources).

Most new computers come with good quality and-virus programs.
But, since new viruses come out every week, you will have to protect yourself with regular "updates," just like an annual flu shot. (Most updates are free). They keep your computer healthy against the current virus outbreaks. It is your responsibility to maintain the health of your computer against viruses and other malicious software.

Then there are virus hoaxes, annoying and time consuming rumors. These messages usually warn you of all kinds of awful things that can happen to your computer 'if you open a particular e-mail message. You can usually tell that you've received a hoax by the following clues:
Use of exclamation marks (no offici al warning uses them);
Use of lots of UPPERCASE text (typical of youngsters);
Misspellings and bad grammar;
No date of origination or expiration;
References to official-sounding sources (e.g., Microsoft, CIAC, CERT) but no URL for details;

No valid digital signature from a known security organization;
Requests to circulate to everyone you know (no such request is mad, in official documents).

Be very wary of virus hoaxes and check out legitimate Web sites, some of which are listed in Resources.

Writing computer viruses is still perfectly legal in the U.S. but there are laws coming out of Europe that might make writing viruses a highly suspicious activity.

The U.S. law which allows you to say things other people don't like, so long as they don't physically endanger anyone (like yelling "fire" in a crowded theater), probably also permits you to write any piece of software you like.

However, distributing viruses can be very illegal, especially if they cause a lot of damage like the Melissa and I Love You viruses of 1999 and 2000.

Companies claimed the Melissa virus caused a lot of damage by clogging up their employees e-mail boxes. The Melissa virus writer was in the U.S. and was prosecuted.

The I Love You virus was more dangerous, because it actually stole passwords. The author was in the Philippines where there was no law against distributing computer viruses, so he didn't get prosecuted.

This shows you just how global Cyberethics and the law can be.
Laws are different everywhere. But what about ethics? Internet access in the Philippines is too expensive for most people there. The I Love You virus author thought of himself as a modern day Robin Hood, taking passwords from the rich and giving to the poor. Does that make an ethical difference and if so, how should that affect the law?

 
Questions To Think About?
What do you think of people who write computer viruses? Are they helping or hurting people? How do they help or hurt?
 
If you could write a computer virus that would only hurt the "bad guys" (whoever they are you pick 'em) and not the "good guys," what would that virus do? Would you send it out on the Internet?

What should we in the U.S. do about people who write and distribute computer viruses?

Should writing and building malicious computer viruses be kept legal? Why or why not?  
 
How Computer Viruses Work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/virus1.htm
What's a "Virus"?
http://www.howstuffworks.com/virus2.htm

What's a "Worm"?
http://www.howstuffworks.com/virus3.htm

DEFINITIONS OF VIRUSES AND OTHER COMPUTER "VERMIN"
http://jaring.nmhu.edu/NOTES/virus-notes.html