Re: Can a computer virus kill the CPU?


w_tom wrote:
Again, original question was about hardware damage. Virus unique to
that hardware might harm a BIOS software. Software that is part of
firmware. But no hardware - even hardware that contains BIOS code - is
damaged. No hardware was damaged by the virus. ICs still function as
they did from the IC factory. Part designed by hardware designers is
not damaged by viruses.

Again, the original question was not about viruses that can attack
software or firmware. Original question did not ask about sending
computer back to the factory. To cite a virus that can damage, one must
change the original question. Hardware in retail products is designed
to be software resilient. Software - be it a virus, misloaded code
such as the HAL, or even a wrong BIOS - must not damage hardware.
Malware can damage software in a disk or might damage software in
firmware. But that is not hardware damage even if repair means sending
it back to the factory.

Military versions of ICs function same (unless, of course, hardware
is a special function IC executing something unique such as an
encryption algorithm). Military ICs perform same functions, but in
more harsh environments. Most notable difference between a commercial
version and a military version is operating temperature range.
Aerospace vehicles also use same ICs. But aerospace version is
typically a military version IC tested for space radiation exposure.
Many aerospace vehicles only use fully qualified ICs that have been
well proven first in regular commercial applications. These are not
specially manufactured ICs. These are simply same IC design that has
been 'fully qualified'.

For example, spacecraft don't use advanced Pentium processors.
Spacecraft use 8086 or 68000 version processors that have been well
proven in retail and commercial applications AND then were qualified
(tested) for space operation. Commercial grade ICs function same as
their military versions because software cannot harm even a commercial
version of the integrated circuit (hardware).

This reply answers an original question about viruses harming
hardware. Others are now citing malware harming software. That is not
the original question. Furthermore, harming firmware is made more
difficult as designers learned from their mistakes - as hardware
designers already have. Viruses do not easily attack firmware or HAL
software (which are unique for that hardware design). Even if these
software are violated, still, hardware damage must not occur. That is
required of and is well proven by legacy of hardware design. Just
another reason why computers change so little over decades. So much
legacy exists in all computer designs for so many reasons. Design so
that software cannot cause hardware damage.


So then, basically, it would be very difficult to write a virus that
could attack
95% of the firmware out there and thus require 95% of infected systems
to
be sent back to the factory (which is what I had in mind when I asked
the
original question -- a virus that would demand factory return.), or
have parts
replaced, etc., and almost impossible to damage hardware physically
with
the virus, right?

You mentioned about spacecraft not using advanced Pentium processors,
only 8086s. But what if they needed more computing power? 8086 is a
very
slow processor and is only useful for relatively simple things. Even
though
they might not need it now, what if they do in the future?

I also needed to know about the motivation to make the virus thing,
where
I asked about the military. Could it be possible that the military has
a virus
that can damage hardware or otherwise mandate physical repair
procedures?

Also, though, for military computers used for doing complex
calculations or
other intense activities, including supercomputers, is it possible that
the chip companies manufacture "souped-up" chips for THOSE computers?


mike4ty4@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
But can't the virus also be designed for pure wanton violence? What
happened to the pure-destruction viruses? Ie. it would spread and
spread, and then when a specific date rolls around, the "time bomb"
goes off and the computers are destroyed. And if you can get a
server's hardware to autodestruct, you do not need DDOS attacks...
Therefore destroying the hardware may not be very easy to do...
Viruses have been made that wipe hard disks, destroying any useful
information in the process, so why can't they destroy hardware that's
vulnerable? Perhaps hardware is tougher than you think? Also,
wouldn't a military virus that destroys hardware be a useful weapon,
to disable enemy computers? Perhaps maybe then such viruses DO
exist... it's just that the US Government doesn't want us to know about
them... Figures. The gov't is probably always 1-2 steps ahead of what
we know about. This of course leads me to an interesting question: Do
CPU manufacturers make "military editions" of their chips that are
faster and better than the chips you can buy in the store?

.