Dustin wrote on 8/28/2014 :
> FromTheRafters  wrote in
> news:ltaci7$9r7$1@speranza.aioe.org: 
>
>> Virus Guy expressed precisely :
>>>     --------
>>>     DHS first warned of Backoff in late July, when it noted the
>>>     malware was not detectable my most antivirus software.
>>>     --------
>>> 
>>> And yet in spite of that and countless other similar examples,
>>> the myth continues that AV/AM software actually accomplishes
>>> anything useful and is worth the millions of dollars that is
>>> spent each year on that market segment.
>> 
>> Sure, it's not perfect, but just try detecting this and other
>> malware types without it.
>
> Malware authors would have a much easier life if AV/AM products were 
> discontinued. Sadly, most viruses of yesteryear could resume activity 
> in the wild in that scenario; without any way to detect them...or 
> remove them. 
>
> Older malware that's non self replicating that poses no threat to a 
> system these days because those products have signatures for it could 
> all have new fresh lives too.

They wouldn't even need to morph like they need to now. Even the 
self-polymorphic old-style viruses wouldn't need to do that - no more 
polymorphic engines - making malware piss-easy to write and distribute.

> People think malware is a problem now? :) Just imagine a world 
> without AV/AM programs, rootkit scanners, etc. The malware wouldn't 
> go away with them. More systems/networks would be compromised. Bad 
> guys would have a field day.
>
> As you know, a virus is usually much worse than the typical garbage 
> people are dealing with these days. Primarily due to the differences 
> in cleanup. Viruses don't usually go away if you just delete a file 
> and a registry key. heh.

Even automatically distributed malware using server side polymorphism 
will get more attention (and as a result, detection) by AV/AM than 
malware used in more targetted attacks like the one mentioned. Why 
someone as clueless as he is continues to use the nym "Virus Guy" is 
beyond comprehension - as is "Spam Guy" who can't read headers.


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