rockjock
join:2003-10-14
Salt Lake City, UT
| Was it really a virus?
The question remains: was it really a virus? Unless I missed it, I didn't see anyplace in the article that mentioned the damage caused to the network.
Or was it merely a mischievously-crafted email with the propensity to propagate a massive influx of email to the HR department? (i.e. spam)
Although it's better to be safe than sorry, IMHO the term 'virus' is used way too loosely these days. |
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jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
 ·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | A virus doesn't have to do host-damage to be considered a virus - not in biological viruses or comp. The virus tag only indicates that it spreads by opportunistic propagation, is indiscriminate in propagation, cannot "survive" (be active) individually outside of a host, and cannot collectively expand in population without a constant reservoir of hosts. |
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2kmaro
Think
Premium,ExMod 1 BC
join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
clubs:  
| reply to rockjock
said by rockjock  :
The question remains: was it really a virus? Unless I missed it, I didn't see anyplace in the article that mentioned the damage caused to the network.
It it manages to spread it's a virus. In this case, it would appear to be a variant of the Redneck.Deliver.ByHand@AOLUser virus:
This email contains a virus - please send it to all your friends.
--
Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment. Barry LePatner |
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rockjock
join:2003-10-14
Salt Lake City, UT
| reply to jap
A key characteristic of a virus - both biological and computer - is the ability to self-replicate. Even if its intent isn't malicious, the self-replicating process of a computer virus consumes bandwidth on a network and system resources on a stand-alone computer. The unnecessary consumption of these resources is the best-case scenario when a virus infects a network.
See »www.google.com/search?q=define:virus for more
This case described at AOL, if true, is just someone sending a mass-email (i.e. spam). At best it could be described as a virus hoax, but an actual virus? Please. The way it is reported as a virus contributes to the virus-hysteria that prevails among society today and is, frankly, irresponsible. |
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jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by rockjock :
This case described at AOL, if true, is just someone sending a mass-email (i.e. spam). At best it could be described as a virus hoax, but an actual virus? Please. The way it is reported as a virus contributes to the virus-hysteria that prevails among society today and is, frankly, irresponsible.
You obviously have way more information than the small, unsigned article that begins this thread. It contains no "case description", states that the msg was indeed spread by viral infection, and says nothing about a broadcast message.
You may be correct that the above is completely bogus in it's use of the word "virus", but there's no indication of it here. I simply responded to your original suggestion that because this jokish letter did no damage that it couldn't BE a virus. |
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jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to 2kmaro
said by 2kmaro :
said by rockjock :
it would appear to be a variant of the Redneck.Deliver.ByHand@AOLUser virus
\\grin!// ..... I like that  |
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