Bob W wrote:
Hi,
Saturday, January 15, 2005, 8:32:24 PM, Peter wrote:
Spyware takes advantage of documented hooks into the Browser and OS
that Microsoft designed in for
their own use, (for other's use as well, but I've always thought that
was an afterthought). A virus usually takes
advantage of an undocumented feature, (usually known as a bug). Spyware
by the way is not illegal while,
creating and releasing a virus or worm is, at least in US law.
Right, I see what you mean. Well, every operating system contains hooks of various types, as well un- (or not publically-) documented features, as well as bugs, and can be hijacked, usually quite easily. This is not unique to Microsoft. It has always been an essential part of operating (and other) system design.
Worms and viruses and so on are like weeds. A weed is just plant in the wrong place. All the techniques that go to making malware are perfectly legitimate techniques, but in the wrong place.
Incidentally, I disagree with your definition of a bug. I would define it as a discrepancy between the software and its specification, where the specification matches the requirements.
--
I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime.
--P.J. O'Rourke
