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Off Topic => General Interest => Debate => Topic started by: PlayingOutpost0-24 on October 14, 2004, 10:10:05 AM

Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: PlayingOutpost0-24 on October 14, 2004, 10:10:05 AM
This is an article from a Hungarian computer magazine...
Quote
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Why is making an anti-virus program makes so many profit?
Report on making viruses.

Many people think that Symantec, Kapersky Labs, or any other company with an anti-virus program DOES fight against viruses. Is this true?
Nowadays money is an important thing. It can be exchanged for goods and services. Goods: the program. Services: it stops viruses. But who makes these viruses? Of course professional hackers. Why? There are many explanations for this. Well lets see some. We polled 5000 people in Budapest. We have got two major opinion:
A ) These hackers take pleasure in wrecking other people's computers. (20%)
B ) Viruses are made by these hackers ORDERED by the companies (for money of course) (79%)
C ) other things (1%)

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Please give your vote and post, what do you think of it...

My opinion: B
Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: xfir on October 14, 2004, 11:48:13 AM
That is a rather bold statement saying that "hackers" work for money, considering that in doing so, they are violating about 8 laws, the companies included. Some of these laws are federal, which can lead to life in prison.

I would say some people find joy in causing the downfall of more or less half the world's computer systems.. It would almost appear that Linux and/or Macintosh users would be behind it (as they tend to hate the Bill Gates Devil). But then, that too is a bold statement that needs not bare repeating.

Is is possible Microsoft itself is making the viruses? In order to flush out pirates? Again, this theory is far fetched and improbable.

All in all, I think it's just someone with a society complex who wants people to know he (or she) is better than they are by causing their computer to do even more annoying things than it already does.
Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: TH300 on October 14, 2004, 01:15:40 PM
I agree with xfir:
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All in all, I think it's just someone with a society complex who wants people to know he (or she) is better than they are by causing their computer to do even more annoying things than it already does.

All other theories could be true, but are not provable. And I've heard about many ppl, who just find it funny or want to show, what they're able to.
Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: Mez on October 14, 2004, 02:30:07 PM
In my opinion hackers do it to cause problems - ie teenager who is bored and wants to show off to the hacker comuntity by attempting to crash as many computer systems as possible.
other hackers do it for money or a laugh e.g the whitehouse ip attack it was a ddos (planned) attack but still hacking to bring the government to a halt for a while.

Also yes i do also have enough problems with windows anyway - i like have to end task explorer then restart it normally a bout twice every log on.

The linux comunity should make a retail version to go head 2 head with windows. RHFC2 or mandrake 10 are both very windows similar and are free and have openoffice.org free ! - all most people need!

Also linux is much more stable and hackers rarly try to target linux machines as there are so much damned more secure than any windows (except NT when properly configured possibly).


:) Now turned into windows flaming lol
Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: PlayingOutpost0-24 on October 14, 2004, 02:47:11 PM
it is just an interesting article and i thought there IS something in it...
Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: xfir on October 14, 2004, 03:59:24 PM
The only reason Linux is deemed secure is because it isn't in wide use (compared to Windows). Linux doesn't get viruses because most "hackers" are targetting Windows. If Linux was running in parallel for Windows for market dominance, you would see much more viruses and hack attempts on Linux.  In fact, you may see more attacks on Linux than Windows. Why? Hackers find it easier to take advantage of flaws when the program is open source!
Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: zeritou on October 15, 2004, 09:42:46 AM
i was told, that after a new anti virus program has been made the company issues a challenge to see how long it takes someone to crack it, the winner usually recieves some sort of prize or regognition and the company recieves information on how they did it so that the company can make there program better,

so in conclusion:

some hackers may do it for the joy of knowing they can
some hackers do it to steal personal information robbing their victom of money
some hackers do it to improve current security
and also tho i have presented no information to this some hackers creat viruses to put on their own computers that spread and activate when someone tries to attack the hackers computer thus serving as "anti-hack" software

edit: fixed typos
Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: Mez on October 15, 2004, 12:00:56 PM
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In fact, you may see more attacks on Linux than Windows. Why? Hackers find it easier to take advantage of flaws when the program is open source!

Good point i never thought of that^. But it could also make the system more secure as other people can work out the flaws, but as software gets more advanced there are more loop holes and backdoors to be exploited - the down side of technological improvement it has to keep getting better.
Title: Interesting things about...
Post by: PlayingOutpost0-24 on October 15, 2004, 01:46:34 PM
This article may also point out that we, hungarians do not think like ppl from other countries...