Greg Mayman (3:800/449) wrote to Steven Horn at 09:29 on 03 May 2003:

 GM> Did you mean the first infected file that arrived at YOUR
 GM> computer, or the first one at McAfee's?

The first infected file that arrived at our network.

 GM> Or the VERY first file in all the world, that carried that
 GM> particular virus?

Who knows where in Asia that was.

 GM> There is no way McAfee could become aware of this virus until
 GM> either (1) they realized that it had arrived at one of their own
 GM> computers; or (2) someone outside the company notified them of it.

Probably the second.

 GM> Most likely by the time they knew of it, it had been around for
 GM> (hours? days?) and had been passed on by possibly millions of
 GM> users.

That's the imponderable.  However, it appears that both Norton and McAfee
can add a definition within 8 hours of "discovery" of the virus.

 GM> Kiddies???? Don't underestimate the enemy! That way lies certain
 GM> defeat.

Who said script kiddies are young.

 GM> A false analogy. No-one is trying to attack my trousers.

But if they fall down, you will be embarrassed.:-)

 GM> More to the point: Does a foot soldier carry a rifle, a side arm,
 GM> and grenades, rockets, as well as knives and a bayonet? Is he
 GM> backed up by ships, aircraft, tanks and missile batteries?

The foot soldier is likely not to carry much more than a rifle, grenades
and a bayonet. Since he's also wearing kevlar body armour, he would not
want to have to lug much more.  But he will be backed up by tanks,
helicopters and aircraft.  

 GM> Why bother, if any one of those weapons by itself can kill enemy
 GM> personnel?

But a rifle may do nothing against a dug-in enemy and so on.

Take care,

Steven Horn (steven_a_horn{at}yahoo.ca)
Moderator, ALASKA_CHAT 
--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+