From David Worton
After drawing a number of provocative analogies between digital infestations
and their biological counterparts, Clive Davidson concludes that the malicious
development of a computer immunodeficiency virus might be the ultimate
consequence
(31 March, p 34).
Scary stuff. But there’s another biological parallel that scares me even
more. A properly functioning immune system is a wonderful thing, but what’s to
stop some proactive defence software from developing an autoimmune reaction to
my files? As if computer operating systems aren’t flaky enough already. Given
the level of damage such a rogue system could do (no doubt with full authority
to access all drives and network machines), I think I’d prefer to take my
chances with the viruses.
Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex
