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Article: Conquering computer viruses.
- Article from:
- Security Management
- Article date:
- February 1, 1989
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 American Society for Industrial Security. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Conquering Computer Viruses
ON NOVEMBER 3, 1988, AN ugly aspect of computerization was exposed to the world by a student's almost innocent act. A graduate of Cornell University launched a malicious computer program into a major national computer network. The virus attacked 6,000 computers that were linked to the network. Because the event was picturesque--in its resemblance to a natural viral attack on a human body--the media covered it prominently.
This time the damage was not too heavy. Only $100 million worth of damage occurred, and that was spread over many sites. The program didn't contain a destructive warhead; it was more of a disturbing entity ...