John McAfee, founder of the Anti-Virus company that bears his name, has been hiding out in Belize, accused of killing someone.  A couple of days ago it was widely reported that he had been captured, however, the police in Belize are now saying that he was not captured.

Oops.  Another false positive.

 He killed my work computer.

Hm. He got captured, possibly had a heart attack.

I guess the idiots who believe in soft-headed concepts like "computer viruses " will have to find someone else to throw their money at.

bridget99:

I guess the idiots who believe in soft-headed concepts like "computer viruses " will have to find someone else to throw their money at.

Computer viruses exist just like bridget99 exists.

bridget99:

I guess the idiots who believe in soft-headed concepts like "computer viruses " will have to find someone else to throw their money at.

 

 

Soft-headed? What do you mean?

Nagesh:

bridget99:

I guess the idiots who believe in soft-headed concepts like "computer viruses " will have to find someone else to throw their money at.

 

 

Soft-headed? What do you mean?

I meant that computers don't really get diseases in the same way that men do. "Virus" is a poor metaphor, whose use implies an imperfect understanding of computing devices. If you catch the flu (a virus of man) at school, or at a grocery store, you probably didn't have much choice in the matter. Sure, you could be a drop-out, and you'd presumably be less likely to catch the flu. Or, you could eschew all of the life-preserving things that men sell to each other at grocery stores. But computers don't just catch viruses from their sources of life (e.g. AC power). They contract what people call "computer viruses" because their users choose to connect to computer networks, optionally and voluntarily. That's a fact which has broad architectural implications.

 the term virus hints at the reproduction system and means of spreading, not the effects of the infection...

Computer viruses (isn't it supposed to be virii?) are more like STDs: You catch them by doing things you probably shouldn't with people you shouldn't, they reduce your ability to perform daily functions, and you can spread them to others you associate with.

ObiWayneKenobi:

Computer viruses (isn't it supposed to be virii?) are more like STDs: You catch them by doing things you probably shouldn't with people you shouldn't, they reduce your ability to perform daily functions, and you can spread them to others you associate with.

The major difference is that computer viruses ask you for money whereas HIV kills you.

bridget99:

Nagesh:

bridget99:

I guess the idiots who believe in soft-headed concepts like "computer viruses " will have to find someone else to throw their money at.

 

 

Soft-headed? What do you mean?

I meant that computers don't really get diseases in the same way that men do. "Virus" is a poor metaphor, whose use implies an imperfect understanding of computing devices. If you catch the flu (a virus of man) at school, or at a grocery store, you probably didn't have much choice in the matter. Sure, you could be a drop-out, and you'd presumably be less likely to catch the flu. Or, you could eschew all of the life-preserving things that men sell to each other at grocery stores. But computers don't just catch viruses from their sources of life (e.g. AC power). They contract what people call "computer viruses" because their users choose to connect to computer networks, optionally and voluntarily. That's a fact which has broad architectural implications.

It is not optional and voluntary. We are all paid to use the computer in one form or other. If you think from end-user prospective, you'll get a virus too.