G'day Bob

16 May 04 11:31, Bob Lawrence wrote to David Drummond:

 DD>> It renders "shell c:\cookies....." inoperative.

 BL>  Windows obviously knows where it is, so program the worm to ask
 BL> Windows and it'll confess. In other words, read it out of the
 BL> registry. 

Your executable cookie just got a little more complex.

 BL>  When I was running Win311, it had a REGISTRY of sorts, and as soon
 BL> as I found it, I erased it! The absolute *last* thing I want on my
 BL> computer is a centralised source of all information. It worries me
 BL> about Linux, too...

My Linux doesn't have a "centralised source of all information" -
most apps/utilities have their own text based config file. Maybe you're
running a distributions that's been too Windowised...

[...]
 DD>> I trust Symantec not to embed viruses in their data files.

 BL>  What if it's not actually Symantec?

If they've taken over Symantec then I guess I'm fucked.

 DD>> Some virii are quite happy to spread via network connection
 DD>> (wireless or wired). They actively seek out networked drives. 

 BL>  I know. What I like about networking is that it is so easy to pull
 BL> the plug.

 BL>> I see a permanent Internet connection as the DEVIL!

 DD>> Firewall Bob - and be careful what you download and/or attempt
 DD>> to execute. 

 BL>  Why do you trust firewalls? It is *not* a fire wall; that's just a
 BL> spinmeister name to make it sound good. A fire wall withstands fire 
 BL> by sacrificing itself a little at a time, and then it fails. A computer
 BL> firewall is just another program given access to the O/S.

It does not have to be. The firewall I have here is not running on my
computer, it is a separate entity. It is contained in the case with the DSL
modem/router - a firmware device.

Regards,
David

--- Msged/LNX TE 06 (pre)