[valis]

Originally Posted by tomdkat

Great point but I think Professor Ledin's question is misdirected. I don't think the "problem" really lies with the antivirus apps and how good or not they are. I think the problem lies with Windows itself. Microsoft has really painted themselves into corner with their "too late to the game" approach to security, especially since they want EVERYONE to use Windows as their primary computing platform.

Peace...

the big question out there is how much more security minded the next file structure is going to be. NTFS was quite a step up from FAT32, I can only hope that WinFS (or whatever they call it in the end) will be a bit more resistant to infection from the ground up that NTFS is.

[Couriant]

(note: I did not read the whole thread, just the first 2 and the last)

It's really a double edged sword really.

On one hand, you are teaching people on how to create viruses and what not to see how they work, and perhaps talk to anti-virus people to say "Hey I created this and disabled your program. Let's get together to make your program stronger to prevent this virus/etc from infecting others.

On the other hand, you are teaching people to hack, steal, what not and become a pain in the rear to potentially millions of people.

Really I would guess it will depend on which side of the Force the user is on, as to the readers of this thread in regards of do you think that it's a good thing for security, or a bad thing...

I see both sides of the argument, and I agree on both counts... my view is that it is for the good intentions of helping to prevent attacks.

[Mumbodog]

"Why would anyone believe that a college student learning to write viruses and other malware would go on to use their knowledge working for a company designing antivirus and other malware software"

Believe it or not, that is exactly what happens in the real world.

To defend against something, you must have first hand knowlege of what you are defending against. Companies hire the "bad guys" quite frequently, like it or not.

[JohnWill]

Originally Posted by Mumbodog

"Why would anyone believe that a college student learning to write viruses and other malware would go on to use their knowledge working for a company designing antivirus and other malware software"

Believe it or not, that is exactly what happens in the real world.

To defend against something, you must have first hand knowlege of what you are defending against. Companies hire the "bad guys" quite frequently, like it or not.

So, every one of those students are going to use that for only good purposes? It must be nice to be all seeing.

[Mumbodog]

"So, every one of those students are going to use that for only good purposes?"



I am sure a large percentage of those students will not use that knowlege at all, for good or evil.

Most college level classes like that one don't teach students what to think, but How to think.

"It must be nice to be all seeing. "

Yes, it is!