WHMurray@DOCKMASTER.NCSC.MIL (05/28/91)
The "Trends and Technologies" page of "Network World," May 13, 1991 carried the following headline in a box: "Viruses specially made to destroy nets." "Science hasn't cured the common cold after decades of trying. The prognosisis, unfortunately, is equally gloomy where the diseases of networking -- computer viruses and worms -- are concerned. "And the virus stituation is worsening. Virus experts predict a trend of virus strains -- and other plagues -- that are aimed specifically at bringing down networks," writes Kris Herbst. One expert "says the new threats will be designed to more effectively cause damage to a network." "Specifically" and "designed." Strong language. The viruses that we have are bad enough, yet most of them were loosed in comparative innocence. Now few people are any more aware than I am of the difficullty of getting reporters to print it straight. I am sympathetic to the "expert" embarrassed by this prediction. (Read on; it could be almost any of you.) Embarrassed for him (well, that eliminates about half of you.) If he said it, he should be embarrassed because such speculation is unwarranted by the evidence, except to the extent that it tends to be self-fulfilling. If he did not say it, I hope that he will write a letter to the editor. Now, who is the expert? The victim? The perpetrator? Why our very own Klaus Brunnstein. Too bad. William Hugh Murray, Executive Consultant, Information System Security 21 Locust Avenue, Suite 2D, New Canaan, Connecticut 06840 203 966 4769, WHMurray at DOCKMASTER.NCSC.MIL