Friendly 'worms' could spread software fixes ...

[Hard_ROCKER]

Microsoft researchers working on "worms" of their own ...

http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn13318-friendly-worms-could-spread-software-fixes.html

[polonus]

Hi Miha,

We have seen this discussion before, years ago, where worms to combat other worms were created, so-called anti malware worms, they produced even some of these, but it never took up somehow.
It is like driving out the devil with Beelzebub, who could trust this stuff to do what it does?

polonus

[philly12]

lol polonus.  Ur analogy made me laugh so hard when reading it, although many people will probably not understand it.

[Staind]

This is really a good idea. People who lack security anyways will be patched overtime.  The only problem would be would Antivirus programs and Firewalls detect these worms and stop them? This could open an avenue for a hacker to spread his worm, without detection.

To go slightly off topic, phage therapy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phage_therapy) uses a similar concept where specific viruses are injected into the body to fight off bacterial infection, the research also looks promising.  Just relating how solutions from one industry effect the other. !

[polonus]

Hi Staind,

It is a sad thing, that we have to take these measures because the uneducated cannot be brought to install patches (so afraid of changing there insecure ways). It is like reintroducing the use of leeches because the rest of society likes to go back to the Middle Ages,

polonus

[tls]

Hi Polonus--

Rather off topic again, but I thought you might find this article interesting:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/bloodysuckers/leech.html

I find it amazing what might be found useful when desperation is the motivation.  Wouldn't want to use them in the way they once were used, though.  Just looking at them sends a shiver up my spine!

terry


P.S.  The more I learn, the more similarities I see between the attitudes of some regarding their health and regarding their computers, as well as the solutions to the respective problems.

[polonus]

Hi  t l s,

What off-topic? This thinking of yours has brought us forward, and your observation is valid. Imagination is a very helpful tool towards innovation, and that means being able also to think out of the trodden tracks. Every time and age had it's particular back-lapses. The Middle Ages were such days, where bishops could hardly spell out the letters of their Latin textbooks, the era meant a great step backwards in knowledge. Modern time and age where the craftsmanship of the individual has been left for the technical uniformity of monopolies these days meant fewer people to participate, fewer people able to think for themselves, more people rewarded for conformity. I see a lot of similarities here with the Dark Ages. Millions of people "dumbed down" to click thoughtlessly to create fortunes for the few that got them that far to hold these views.  I just have to think of all the people that buy new computers, because they were helpless or thought to be so against spyware and adware. No one thought of reformatting their hard disks and start anew. And this stupidity is going on on both sides of the Atlantic. When will the common user wake up?

polonus

[bob3160]

When will the common user wake up?

I hope not to soon.  Currently, we've had 15 computers donated to us at
our local Senior Center because the computers where totally infected.

With a little work, these systems where refurbished (totally cleaned).
We kept 5 for our own use in the Computer Lab   and sold the rest for a
nice "sunshine fund" for the Senior Center.
There is always a good side to anything bad. 

[polonus]

Hi bob3160,

That is what I like about ye - always on the sunny side of the street. For bob the glass is always half full, not half empty. Keep it up, bob,

pol

[bob3160]

For bob the glass is always half full, not half empty.

It's actually very logical Damien.  Drinking the empty half isn't very satisfying. 

[tls]

. . .
Imagination is a very helpful tool towards innovation, and that means being able also to think out of the trodden tracks. . . Modern time and age where the craftsmanship of the individual has been left for the technical uniformity of monopolies these days meant fewer people to participate, fewer people able to think for themselves, more people rewarded for conformity. I see a lot of similarities here with the Dark Ages. . . I just have to think of all the people that buy new computers, because they were helpless or thought to be so against spyware and adware. . . When will the common user wake up?

So true.  I am amazed by the number of people who simply accept what they are told, without questioning the source or considering the possible consequences.  Then there are those who simply do what is most convenient at the time, assuming there will be a "fix" or "cure" for the consequences of their disregard for the well-being of their computers or their own health.

For bob the glass is always half full, not half empty.

It's actually very logical Damien.  Drinking the empty half isn't very satisfying. 

I love this sort of logic.   And I am glad those donated computer "lemons" could be turned into good "lemonade."

       

[Dwarden]

lol some friends of mine wrote in past reverse trojans which fixed and plugged holes in infected machines and informed the users after restart his computer was patched and why

it was because they were running several IRCs which someone turned into botnet control center ... so they knew IPs of these machines and sometimes thru analyze of traffic they knew the password and ports and so on ...

but such was so rare i dont remember hearing about for years