[comp.virus] no viruses from software companies

ZDEE699@ELM.CC.KCL.AC.UK (06/16/89)

In VIRUS-L Digest, Thursday, 8 Jun 1989, Volume 2 : Issue 132:
   odawa@well.sf.ca.us (Michael Odawa) writes:

> Let us set the record straight on this subject:

> No known software publisher has ever intentionally released a virus
> into circulation, nor is it likely that any would do so, as it would
> be contrary to their interests.  Viruses threaten the entire software
> industry and expose the releasing party to an enormous legal
> liability.

	Mr. Odawa might speak for U.S. software distributors, but
surely not for foreign publishers... however small they are.  The Alvi
brothers in Pakistan made a small software company, and included
viruses and bugs in their programs so as to get customers to pay them
when something was going wrong. It might be an isolated case, but then
Mr. Odawa cannot certify that "No known software publisher has ever
intentionally released a virus into circulation".

Feedback, Flames, etc. welcomed... to a certain extent...

O. Crepin-Leblond, Comp. Sys. & Electronics,
Electrical & Electronic Engineering,
King's College London, UK

Disclaimers etc. apply...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|Olivier M.J. Crepin-Leblond                        |- If no-one can do it|
|JANET   :<zdee699@uk.ac.kcl.cc.elm>                |  then do it yourself|
|BITNET  :<zdee699%elm.cc.kcl.ac.uk@ukacrl>         |- If you can't do it,|
|INTERNET:<zdee699%elm.cc.kcl.ac.uk@uk.ac.nsfnet-relay>|then  P A N I C !!|
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^