dragonstar57 Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 I read a short scifi story where there was a computer virus that was programed to delete hostile programs(other virus) . it was also designed to shut down a system if it "thought" that the security of the computer was comprised and to identify any new virus based upon their actions and source code. is that possible? is there any benefit of such a program over a antivirus software? what would make this a virus rather than a normal program?
khaled Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 I read a short scifi story where there was a computer virus that was programed to delete hostile programs(other virus) . it was also designed to shut down a system if it "thought" that the security of the computer was comprised and to identify any new virus based upon their actions and source code. is that possible? is there any benefit of such a program over a antivirus software? what would make this a virus rather than a normal program? Yes, it is highly possible in the future, based on Artificial Intelligence and Analysis -- basically, normal anti-viruses can suspect a code to be harmful, it asks the user to put them in the Quarantine ! -- then, the anti-virus sends an isolated copy of Quarantined files to the vendor's e-labs to check the files ... yes, only if the Analyzer is trustworthy ! It can turn into a virus, if the Analyzer is either not good, or if it was modified ! -- this assumption also includes if a free anti-virus was programmed to be a virus initially ...
dragonstar57 Posted January 30, 2011 Author Posted January 30, 2011 (edited) Yes, it is highly possible in the future, based on Artificial Intelligence and Analysis -- basically, normal anti-viruses can suspect a code to be harmful, it asks the user to put them in the Quarantine ! -- then, the anti-virus sends an isolated copy of Quarantined files to the vendor's e-labs to check the files ... yes, only if the Analyzer is trustworthy ! It can turn into a virus, if the Analyzer is either not good, or if it was modified ! -- this assumption also includes if a free anti-virus was programmed to be a virus initially ... it also had the function of someone tried to hack the computer the virus jumped into the hackers computer and deleted all the hackers viruss he had made to hack people's computers.(that's not possible is it?) but i don't see what makes this program a virus because by definition (i think) a computer virus has to be harmful. so if someone made an antivirus that spreads like a virus and would that even be a virus? Edited January 30, 2011 by dragonstar57
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 It's most likely illegal to install a program on a user's computer without their consent, even if it's for their own good. Particularly because antivirus programs occasionally screw up and delete something useful. If that happens to even one person you "infect," you're in for a world of trouble.
khaled Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 it also had the function of someone tried to hack the computer the virus jumped into the hackers computer and deleted all the hackers viruss he had made to hack people's computers.(that's not possible is it?) but i don't see what makes this program a virus because by definition (i think) a computer virus has to be harmful. so if someone made an antivirus that spreads like a virus and would that even be a virus? You know what is really funny, hackers use linux, as a linux user, we don't know what an anti-virus means, -- only script-kiddies keeps viruses on their computer, hackers never keep any copy of a virus on their drive, True (about your last question) that includes performance-eaters (multiplies in the cpu), halters (lead computer to halt), -- memory-jammers (fills up memory), and no-ops (keep doing nothing in cpu)
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 If you could easily find a hacker's computer, I think you'd do other things than send it a virus, like arresting him.
Mr Skeptic Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 An anti-virus virus has been tried. It is less "fit" than other viruses and furthermore caused a lot of network traffic because instead of just sending copies of itself it had to also download updates. Some modern viruses do make some sort of changes to the computers they infect that prevent further infection, mostly so other people can't take over that computer.
dragonstar57 Posted January 31, 2011 Author Posted January 31, 2011 (edited) An anti-virus virus has been tried. It is less "fit" than other viruses and furthermore caused a lot of network traffic because instead of just sending copies of itself it had to also download updates. Some modern viruses do make some sort of changes to the computers they infect that prevent further infection, mostly so other people can't take over that computer. so would it sound more realistic if searches for possible viruss and sends a copy of the source code to an analyzer that could determine if it was a computer virus without effecting the original copy? that would than add the data to the antivirus of their own computer? hackers use linux, as a linux user, we don't know what an anti-virus means, -- only script-kiddies keeps viruses on their computer, hackers never keep any copy of a virus on their drive, why do hackers use linux? why do linux users "not know what antivirus is"? and why would only script kiddies keep viruss on their drive? what does script kiddies mean? Edited January 31, 2011 by dragonstar57
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 The vast majority of Linux users run no antivirus, because Linux has practically no viruses.
Xittenn Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 and why would only script kiddies keep viruss on their drive? what does script kiddies mean? Script kiddies are high school kids who consume substances and listen to rave music. They like to think they know how to program but generally speaking they write files that execute programs. They are usually the cause of the spreading of malware and thus require the binaries to exist on their drives. Script kiddies get very excited about words like shell, kernel and bash ....
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 Script kiddies generally use pre-made systems for hacking -- hence the term "script" kiddie. They just follow a script, and get all proud when they succeed. Kernels and shells get me excited, but I do no hacking...
dragonstar57 Posted January 31, 2011 Author Posted January 31, 2011 Script kiddies are high school kids who consume substances and listen to rave music. They like to think they know how to program but generally speaking they write files that execute programs. They are usually the cause of the spreading of malware and thus require the binaries to exist on their drives. Script kiddies get very excited about words like shell, kernel and bash .... where do script kiddies learn the programing?
khaled Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 so would it sound more realistic if searches for possible viruss and sends a copy of the source code to an analyzer that could determine if it was a computer virus without effecting the original copy? that would than add the data to the antivirus of their own computer? why do hackers use linux? why do linux users "not know what antivirus is"? and why would only script kiddies keep viruss on their drive? what does script kiddies mean? There is a famous problem in Security Field called "source ambiguity", it means if someone wrote a virus, -- without leaving any trace of who wrote it, and it spread ... you cannot know who produced this virus, and if a virus exist somewhere, it doesn't necessarily mean you made it up, -- moreover, but the law says that sending\distributing a virus is illegal ... hackers use linux because viruses are mostly written for windows operating system, and you don't really get to see a trojan horse or a viruse with xxx.out or xxx.bash extensions, you usually see them with xxx.exe, and there is no autorun in linux, the thing that makes virus execution easier on windows ... there are three kinds of hackes, white hat are the good hackers that use hacking techniques to test servers,OSs,..etc , script-kiddies and they write viruses,trojan horses,..etc and they use pre-made hacking systems, black hats and they are the worst ones, and if you are targeted by one, I can't assure you that your device will be safe anymore, black hats don't write viruses,trojan horses,..etc , they do mainly three things: - Passive Attack: Collecting Information About targets (called Social Engineering) - Active Attack: direct Attack to the target's devices\systems (not using pre-packed systems) - Program Black Agents: This is worst than viruses\trojan horses\..etc, this is a mobile programmed agent, -- it moves through systems, and network, it has a job to do, either collecting information, or that it's a member -- of a distributed group to commit a DDOS attack that is untraceable About myself, I'm a white hat ...
mississippichem Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 So do software companies and corporations pay "white-hat" hackers to try and crack their stuff as a preemptive security test? This might be a stupid question...I know nothing of the sort.
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted January 31, 2011 Posted January 31, 2011 "Pentesting" (penetration testing) is a fairly common practice, although those interested in security lament that it's not taken seriously enough.
Mr Skeptic Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 So do software companies and corporations pay "white-hat" hackers to try and crack their stuff as a preemptive security test? This might be a stupid question...I know nothing of the sort. Indeed. Some white hat hackers also find security flaws on their own and sometimes even publish them, for reputation or to try to enact some sort of change (change for the good if they're a white hat, such as if a company is pretending that their product is perfectly secure and hiding problems instead of fixing them). In that case, they usually contact the company which made the flawed product and tell them about the bug before publishing. On the other hand a black hat would sell that information secretly or use it to infect computers.
khaled Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 So do software companies and corporations pay "white-hat" hackers to try and crack their stuff as a preemptive security test? This might be a stupid question...I know nothing of the sort. Not any white-hat, they bring a Security Expert (white-hat too), to test their systems, give reports on security and threats, and give solutions on the other hand also, moreover, the Security Expert might offer to upgrade the security of the system with a higher costs than the test cost ...
Bignose Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 The vast majority of Linux users run no antivirus, because Linux has practically no viruses. I've been reading more about these platform independent-viruses lately, most of them written in java to date. Definitely something to watch for in the future, and something for linux and MacOS users to be aware of.
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 I've been reading more about these platform independent-viruses lately, most of them written in java to date. Definitely something to watch for in the future, and something for linux and MacOS users to be aware of. A well-administered Linux or Mac system uses file permissions to make sure viruses can do no harm; for a Linux virus to do serious damage, the user would have to grant it administrative privileges. Social engineering or Trojan Horses are the best bet. 1
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