Procedures to reduce the computer virus threat

✍ Scribed by Harold Joseph Highland

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 976 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0167-4048
• DOI: 10.1016/s0167-4048(97)82248-1

✦ Synopsis

The computer virus threat early in 1988 resulted in a spate of recommendations of ways to reduce the danger of infection. Much of what was then written was based more on an emotional response than a rational understanding of the problem. Although laudable, many recommendations were platitudes and offered little assurance that a virus attack will be thwarted. Many recommendations were made without considering user reaction and/or work throughput.

First let us examine some of the sensible nJes more carefully now that we have a better understanding of what was happening.

Rule #l: "Only use programs obtained from reputable producers." Sounds great! But how about purchasing Freehand from Aldus and finding a virus inside the sealed plastic package? Or consider the users in the UK and Australia who received updates of their operating system from the friendly Amiga dealers only to find that the disks infected their systemsThen there was the reported 0 Compulit, Inc., 1989.All rights reserved.

incident in the Federal Republic of Germany Dealers received a demonstration version ofAppleS Multifinder to duplicate and give copies to their customers. The disk, unfortunately, contained a virus.

Rule #2: "Never use programs downloaded from a bulletin board."