tittle@glacier.ICS.UCI.EDU (Cindy Tittle) (06/07/89)
(From Time Magazine, Milestones section, June 5, 1989) "SUSPENDED: Robert Tappan Morris, Jr., 23, Cornell University graduate student who last fall bedeviled two national computer networks linking universities, corporations and the military by infecting them with a computer virus. Morris' mischievous software program was apparently intended to produce a slow disruption of the networks. But a minor mistake in the instructions caused the virus to identify secret passwords, shut down systems and replicate itself uncontrollably. While no criminal charges have been filed against Morris, Cornell barred him from classes until fall 1990." Wow...what would a *major* mistake cause the software to do?! It's a good thing none of our inexperienced students trying to write C programs here have stumbled across this particular "minor mistake." :-) -- Cindy -- Edited by Brad Templeton. MAIL, yes MAIL your jokes to funny@looking.ON.CA Attribute the joke's source if at all possible. I will reply, mailers willing. If you MUST reply to a rejection, include a description of your joke because there is 0 chance I will remember which one it was. Administrative note: The Peter Marshall Joke comes from "Not Necessarily the News", it is reported by Vernon Lee. People, at the bottom of every message it says attribute the joke. Please do so. The 18 bottles story is by comedian Henry Morgan, it's from the 40s or 50s.