Virus Writers: The End of The Innocence - Computer Virus

Earlier research has empirically demonstrated the cyclic nature of virus writing activity: as virus writers “age out”, new virus writers take their places. Enhanced connectivity amplifies the existing problem and various technical factors result in new types of virus writers surfacing as the cycle repeats. However, a new variable has recently been introduced into the cycle: high profile legal intervention. The virus writing community now has experienced visits by concerned law enforcement personnel; there have been arrests and there will be sentencing s. New laws are being considered, enacted, and acted upon. Thus, the virus writing scene is no longer a casual pastime of kids on local Bulletin Board Systems. What has been the impact, perceptually and operationally, of these visits, arrests, and sentencing s? In other words, as the virus problem gets more and more “real world” attention, where are we actually going in terms of shaping acceptable behavior in our virtual communities and what, if any, effect are these legal interventions having on the impact of viruses upon users’ computers