Throttling Computer Viruses

An anonymous reader writes "An article in the Economist that looks at a new way to thwart computer viral epidemics, by focusing on making computers more resilient rather than resistant. The idea is to slow the spread of viral epidemics allowing effective human intervention rather than attempting to make a computer completely resistant to attack."

slow the spread of viral epidemics

[batemanm]

Okay everyone back to 2400bps modems :-)

This will of course lead to a new class of virus..

[Unknown Bovine Group]

The "annoy the user to death" virus.

You have a possible virus(mickeymouse variant 1a). Transmit to everyone in your address book?

No.

You have a possible virus(mickeymouse variant 1b). Transmit to everyone in your address book?

No.

You have a possible virus(mickeymouse variant 1c). Transmit to everyone in your address book?

No.

You have a possible virus(mickeymouse variant 1d). Transmit to everyone in your address book?

No. ARGH!

Re:I have a brilliantly original idea

[vidnet]

Yeah ok......starting tomorrow.

suggestion...

[Dexter's Laboratory]

Run Windows! That'll slow things down. Maybe it would slow down the spreading of viruses too?

Support Neo-Ludditism

[corvi42]

[SARCASM]
Prevent the spread of viruses, make computers more secure, enjoy life in the Real World, spend more time with your family & loved ones!

All this and more can be yours! Support Neo-Ludditism - break your computer today!

No computers means no computer problems!
Just imagine a profitable new career in ...um.... basket weaving!
[/SARCASM]

Microsoft already does this...

[krystal_blade]

Virii thought: Woohoo, I got in a machine!
Windows: "Are you a dll?"
Virii thought: "Umm... Yes. I like Outlook."
Windows: "Okay, hang on..."

Launches Outlook...
Virii thought: "Why is everything blue?"
Windows: .............
Virii thought: "Oh, if only I had hands!!!"

Re:slow the spread of viral epidemics

[MImeKillEr]

2400 bps is too fast.

Everyone drop your baudrate to 110.

Just for laughs, we used to get stoned and call a multi-line chat board here in Austin, Tx (long live AfterHours, R.I.P. Tombob). We'd drop our baudrate to 300 or 110. and attempt to have coherent conversations while inebriated.

Yeah, pathetic but the internet wasn't available to the public yet and we were young and st00pid.

Re:suggestion...

[6Yankee]

Run Windows! [...] Maybe it would slow down the spreading of viruses too?

You really haven't been paying attention, have you?! :))

Re:Sounds like Microsoft is just right for the job

[Anonymous Coward]

Warning: Anivirus program detected recent installed software has caused computer slowdown and transmission of unknown packet to www.microsoft.com
Possible cause: Microsoft software.
Advise: Do not trust Microsoft

Solution: Install GNU/freeware alternatives.

Re:This will of course lead to a new class of viru

[CoolVibe]

There is a slightier annoying version of that one already in existance. They killed it off not too long ago.

You might have heard of it, it was called "Clippy"

why not?

[pixitha]

why not just stop the anti-virus companies from making all the virus's in the first place?

I mean, they make money on sales of anti-virus software, without any kind of regulation, hell with the way corporate america is already going, who says its not a big scam anyhow?

Real Software Throttling

[BrianUofR]

Perhaps we could somehow throttle Microsoft and limit them to releasing one new OS every 5 years or so. Maybe that would give us enough time to patch all the Gaping Security Holes.

Re:I have a brilliantly original idea

[jez9999]

Nah, being lazy tends to mean the exact opposite. You write crap underlying code, and then put in some fancy GUI to try and cover up the sins of the program.

Re:slow the spread of viral epidemics

[Anonymous Coward]

but do you still have a phone that will fit the modem?