Watched ZDTV news tonight. They had a story about the Y2K virus problem. A guy from Mcafee (NAI) was very concerned, noting that 2 were already found. The guy from Norton (Symantec) says it'll just be business as usual, saying it's just another day, and there is already at least one virus triggered on every other day of the year. (Where have I heard this line of thinking before?)

I think it's going to be a bad day. This is a perfect opportunity for a virus writer to throw another monkey wrench in the works.

What do you think?

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), October 11, 1999

Answers

Hey Sysman,

Yep, I think this is one of the givens regarding Y2k. It may one of the areas that the government fears the most too. I don't think we can underestimate the desire out there for some to get their 15 minutes of fame. But, I think the well organized entities out there bent on furthering an agenda are the ones we should really worry about and planting a virus is just another great way of causing confusion and creating trouble.

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), October 11, 1999.

I can barely hack my way into my own email, so maybe I just don't understand the mindset. But why would a hacker, looking for fame, want to set loose a virus on the day computers are set to go down? Kinda takes the sparkle outta the game, doesn't it? And even if the virus does spread around and is "successful" (by his/her standards) wouldn't that hacker have to share the limelight with Y2K?

-- (calm@kom.com), October 11, 1999.

But don't forget, EVERY lunatic in the world that successfully 'takes down' something, be it a network, business or otherwise, will believe in their own minds that they have achieved 'hacker immortality'. Don't forget, for the most part, people like that are sad, lonely folk who don't care if they are remembered for even negative things, as long as they are remembered. Double ditto for the whacked out O-Salami-been-Layin' Low and his terroristic bretheren

-- Billy-Boy (Rakkasn@Yahoo.com), October 11, 1999.

I remember reading a DoD report about a month ago or so (shortly after Kosky presented his case to congress for the ICC) that they expect over 200,000 viruses to be introduced into the system. What will Norton and Mcafee about those?

Keep ur powder dry

Keith

-- Keith Nealy (keithn@aloha.net), October 11, 1999.