Re: Are Antivirus software companies like the Mafia?

From: The Magnificent Bastard (magnif_bastard_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 04/29/04 

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 20:49:17 -0500

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 18:45:04 -0700, in alt.tv.sopranos, Trafton rubs the
lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again. It does this
whenever it's told -

> Hi,
>
> He was obviously replying to your saying it is some sort of conspiracy, if
> you read the second sentence of his post.

This would be a good point, except I never used the word conspiracy.
>
> Although you are free to your opinions, there is no backing to what you are
> saying. We have responded to our best of abilities to the points you have
> raised, and have not received any rebuttles based on fact - rather, they are
> just based on possibility.

I raised a question based on an opinion that I had. Is it wrong to
express one's opinion, whether or not it is based on "fact".

>
> Although there is no way to tell when someone is a troll, this behavior
> seems somewhat troll-like, in that it seems mostly for the sake of
> provoking.
>
> These newsgroups are mostly for Microsoft support. We cannot spend time
> convincing you there is no massive conspiracy in the antivirus industry.
> Unless you have any conclusive points, there is no further need to respond
> and it is likely most will regard your posts as trolling.
>
> Sincerely,
> Benjamin "Trafton" Johnstone-Anderson
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Security
> Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply!
> Security Manifest: www.msmvps.com/trafton/
>
> "The Magnificent ***" <magnif_***@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1afa247686e9bc4989a7d@news.alt.net...
> > On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 20:43:34 -0400, in alt.tv.sopranos, Bill Sanderson
> > rubs the lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again. It does
> > this whenever it's told -
> >
> >
> >> No it isn't.
> >>
> >> A good conspiracy depends on a small number of folks in the know.
> >>
> >> You are talking about a large number of folks, over a long period of
> >> time.
> >>
> >> This is complete nonsense--and if you don't know that, and it appears
> >> that
> >> you don't, you might wish to consider getting professional help.
> >
> > Since you top-posted, I'm not sure which comments of mine that you're
> > referring to. Your post, for all intents and purposes, is complete non-
> > sense. I implore you to stop top-posting if you want people to take you
> > seriously.
> >
> > Good day to you, sir.
> >
> >>
> >> "The Magnificent ***" <magnif_***@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >> news:MPG.1afa01f14244a24989a79@news.alt.net...
> >> > On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 15:52:15 -0700, in alt.tv.sopranos, Trafton rubs
> >> > the
> >> > lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again. It does this
> >> > whenever it's told -
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> Hi,
> >> >>
> >> >> First of all, it's a bad idea to post with your real email address to
> >> >> forums
> >> >> like these, as users are already infected with viruses and are looking
> >> >> for
> >> >> help. They will harvest your email.
> >> >
> >> > I don't open email from people I don't know so the joke is on them.
> >> > They will be wasting their time if they send me an email.
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> "The Magnificent ***" <magnif_***@hotmail.com> wrote in
> >> >> message
> >> >> news:MPG.1af9fa7cc3a4e0a1989a78@news.alt.net...
> >> >> > Antivirus software companies charge you money to "protect" your
> >> >> > computer
> >> >> > from viruses and other bad things that could happen to it (trojan
> >> >> > horse,
> >> >> > worm, etc.). If you don't pay for protection, there is a very good
> >> >> > chance that something bad will happen to your computer. Some people
> >> >> > say
> >> >> > that some antivirus software companies are even responsible for some
> >> >> > (or
> >> >> > most) of the new viruses that come out.........that way there is
> >> >> > always
> >> >> > a need for their products.
> >> >
> >> >> This is an odd argument. After all, couldn't you say the same about
> >> >> most
> >> >> every services industry? Doctors don't make people sick to get their
> >> >> business. There is no "massive" conspiracy. The antivirus industry is
> >> >> so
> >> >> large that it would be doubtful a secret such as that would be able to
> >> >> stay
> >> >> in for so long.
> >> >
> >> > We still don't know who really shot JFK, so it's entirely possible that
> >> > a secret like this could be kept for a long time.
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> > Sounds kind of like the mafia. Either you pay them for protection or
> >> >> > you'll get hurt or something like that.
> >> >> You can avoid getting hurt by using common sense, even if you don't
> >> >> have
> >> >> an
> >> >> antivirus program. Viruses require user intervention to spread - some
> >> >> require the lack thereof. It's not antivirus programs that stop
> >> >> viruses
> >> >> from
> >> >> spreading - they're only a safety net.
> >> >>
> >> >> > Is this just a coincidence?
> >> >> No; a coincidence would entail some sort of similarity of unusual
> >> >> nature.
> >> >> There is nothing unusual here. And, if you still feel this way, try a
> >> >> free
> >> >> antivirus program like this one:
> >> >>
> >> >> http://www.grisoft.com/
> >> >>
> >> >> Here is it from a virus writer's perspective, reflecting on the
> >> >> absurdities
> >> >> that were speculated upon because of a somewhat confusingly worded
> >> >> (but
> >> >> standard) phrase in a Symantec write-up:
> >> >>
> >> >> http://www.virusbtn.com/magazine/archives/200207/record_straight.xml
> >> >>
> >> >> Sincerely,
> >> >> Benjamin "Trafton" Johnstone-Anderson
> >> >> Microsoft MVP - Windows Security
> >> >> Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply!
> >> >> Security Manifest: www.msmvps.com/trafton/
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Magnificent *** Productions 2004 ©
> >> >
> >> > http://www.magnificentbastardproductions.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> > --
> > Magnificent *** Productions 2004 ©
> >
> > http://www.magnificentbastardproductions.com
>
>
> 

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