Re: Win32/RAMNIT.A Anyone?

On 06/08/2010 01:46, FromTheRafters wrote:
> "John Slade" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> On 8/4/2010 2:40 PM, FromTheRafters wrote:
>>> "John Slade"<[email protected]>  wrote in message
>>> news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>> [...]
>>>
>>>>      "Virus" is both a generic term and a specific term.
>>>> Why do you think they call the software used to clean
>>>> trojans and  worms, "Anti-Virus" software?
>>>
>>> Generally, they call it antimalware unless it is also effective
>>> against
>>> viruses and worms (which are self-replicators). If it is effective
>>> against viruses, they call it an antivirus. Antivirus programs can
>>> also
>>> detect some non-replicating malware.
>>
>>        They call it that because it's quite common to refer to all
>> malware as viurses. Been this way for decades.
> 
> Being wrong is quite common also.
> 
>>>> I'm sure you don't think that they only clean viruses
>>>> and leave trojans and worms alone. It's all a matter
>>>> of semantics.
>>>
>>> Of course it is, but semantics shouldn't be a dismissive word. The
>>> meanings of words are *important* to effective communications.
>>>
>>
>>       It's all a matter of who you're talking to. If the person wants
>> to nitpick even though they know what a person means then what can you
>> do but explain.
> 
> I don't usually bother to correct non-professionals, although I do
> mention that they are in error when they call non-replicators viruses.
> In your case, being a "professional" you should know better. That you
> refuse to accept the facts is just your personality getting in the way
> of your professionalism.
> 
>> I've worked for people who are very computer savvy and people who are
>> new to computers. I use all the terms to describe the problem and
>> rarely hear anyone nitpick about using the word "virus" to describe a
>> trojan or worm. It's just acceptable.
>>
>>>> Just about all of the major anti-malware vendors have
>>>> products that they call Anti-Virus. This is because it just
>>>> stuck. You're a professional and you don't know this?
>>>
>>> We all know this, and we don't like it one bit. The fact remains that
>>> viruses are a special case requiring more than what many antimalware
>>> applications are equipped to handle.
>>
>>          It seems to anger you on some level.
> 
> Not really, it angers me when they call viruses malware - but that's
> another story that you would not be interested in.

Why should a virus not be classified as malware?

>> I don't care in the least what they call it, as long as it does the
>> job.
> 
> What job?
> 
> If you use an antimalware application to remove viruses, you can be
> giving a still infested machine back to your customer.

Perhaps he, and maybe many others, *DO* return infested machines to 
their customers! If the 'professional' doesn't know, how would the 
customer?!!!

Follow-up set.
......