University Offers Spam and Spyware Writing Course
| Title: | University Offers Spam and Spyware Writing Course (ID: CSD3726) | | Author(s): | Will Sturgeon (Silicon.com) | | Topics: | Programming and Programming Languages, Spam, Spyware or Adware, Viruses and Worms | | Origin: | Community Contributions (2005) | | Type: | Articles, Papers, and Reports | | Abstract: | he University of Calgary, which gained attention in 2003 when it began offering a course on writing viruses, has now introduced a course devoted to writing spyware and spam. Although the virus-writing course prompted strong criticism, response to the new offering has been warmer. Some members of the computer-security community noted that such a course could give students a strong understanding of how to combat malicious computer code in practice. "If we're looking for an engineer to [fight] spam, then we'd rather have somebody who has already been taught about these things and who knows how they work," said Steve Purdham, CEO of SurfControl. Mark Murtagh of Websense echoed those comments. He compared computer security to a game of chess, saying, "You need to be completely up to date on what's available to ensure you understand your opponent's potential next move." Pete Simpson, ThreatLab manager at Clearswift, disagreed, however, saying that such arguments "really [fall] flat for spamming tools." He said the course will tempt students to put their skills to harmful use. Students who do so risk failing grades and prosecution, according to the university. | | View this resource: | |
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