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Letter: Wet paper security

Published 6 July 2002

From Geoff Lane

In the Patents column, you say “…so a 3G phone could be disabled by a computer virus” (22 June, p 21). Yes, but only if you make a really bad choice in your cellphone operating system. Computer viruses are not a natural consequence of software. They exist because certain popular commercial operating systems are about as secure as a wet paper bag.

We have a world full of insecure, virus-ridden PCs because of stupid design and financial considerations. Do we have to follow the same path again?

Bury, Greater Manchester

Issue no. 2350 published 6 July 2002

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