http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5080788 I'm surprised they are finally starting to catch these guys. This kid probably gets a job offer after his legal issues are over...that's assuming he's allowed to access a computer any time in the next 10 years.
In my opinion, the real problem isn't with the virus authors (although that is a problem of course), but with the underlying operating system. The operating system should not allow viruses of those types to be possible. Windows really needs something like "root" access, so even if you are logged in as administrator, you still need to authenticate if some process is trying to put something where only the root user has access. - Shawn
The OS is at fault, and so are the users. I sometimes think people should have to pass a basic PC skills test before they can have broadband hooked up at home. You would not believe some of the things I see on my clients computers. No firewall (software or hardware based), no windows updates...ever. No anti-virus, no "SpyBot" type package...no nothing. Just a spam relay hub with every piece of adware known to man. PCs that are 1 month old run like they are 5 years old, and the cable modem connections are slower than dial up because of all the traffic in and out of their PC. I swear I could send some people an e-mail that says "this is a virus - if you click the attachement you will be infected" and they would still open it.
Viruses are simple to make. None of these kids are geniuses, just idiots. i come from a time where viruses either were mildly annoying and funny, or totally wipe out your drive fat tables. Anyone remember the pong virus (1980s)? These days of pentiums are a bit tougher because now you have protected modes, etc. But nonetheless, anything can be hacked. Hexed
Does anyone find any humour in the following, or it is just me? -- "We are absolutely certain that this really is the creator of the Internet worm because Microsoft experts were involved in the inquiry ... " http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5080764 -- "Microsoft Experts" can't even make an operating system correctly with the billion dollar budgets they set forth. Unix did it on a much smaller budget. Who's the experts? Hexed
I think these worm authors are playing a very important role to improve the operating system security. There must have some holes in every security system. Hackers are detecting these. But they must not steal or damage any file/information.
I agree its a bit of catch 22 whilst these viruses are a big nuisance without them we would not have the advanced security systems we now have. But As another poster says you will be surprised how many people dont have any protection at all. My duaghter in law just retired her desktop which we took for a spare in the office. It had no vurus protection or spyware and she really got rid of it for lack of performance. But when we got it we just needed to clean out the viruses and the spyware and its now an operating unit again. These are not dumb people they are in the top 10% of income earners in the country but its a mystery as to why they dont employ some protection at all.