Educate new employees about virus hoaxes the easy way
Internet users will cast their votes in November to decide who "wins"!
"The world's Internet users will get to vote on who they think should win an award," Rosenberger said in announcing the "first annual" event. He and Smith unveiled the nominees on the World Wide Web and will take votes online throughout the month of November. The two men hope their efforts will slow the spread of myths and rumors surrounding computer viruses.
Some of the well-known names on the ballot include advice columnist Ann Landers, computer industry columnist Larry Magid, and anchor Brian Williams of the MSNBC cable network. Internet users can vote for their favorites in four different categories: "Publicity," "Quotations," "Events," and a special "Geraldo Rivera category for investigative journalism."
Those who wish to vote may do so by visiting the Computer Virus Myths home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.kumite.com/myths. Online voting ends November 30th; Rosenberger and Smith will announce the "winners" in December.
Nominees who "win" a Computer Virus Hysteria Award will receive a book on computer viruses, computer security, or the culture of the Internet. "We want this to be an exercise in extending computer literacy," Smith explained. Book authors and publishers have graciously donated to the prize closet.
Runners-up in the Computer Virus Hysteria Awards will each receive what Rosenberger calls "a 'reality check' worth real money" — in the form of a prepaid calling card. "This way they can call somebody who actually knows what they're talking about" in the field of computer viruses and security.
The contest is puckishly named after John McAfee, who catapulted to fame and fortune as a telegenic virus expert in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His media exposure helped propel McAfee Associates, Inc. to a dominant position in the antivirus software industry.
Ironically, Rosenberger and Smith both credit John McAfee for spurring their interest in computer viruses. Rosenberger started investigating myths and hoaxes in 1988 after he grew disgusted with "all the Chicken Little statements" McAfee gave to reporters. Smith credits McAfee's crucial role in 1992's Michelangelo virus hysteria as the catalyst behind the Crypt Newsletter, which takes a skeptical look at the world of computer security.
Smith later wrote The Virus Creation Labs, a book which exposes the Byzantine world of computer virus authors and antivirus companies. An entire chapter is devoted to the Michelangelo media event and John McAfee's role in it.
Rob Rosenberger maintains the "Computer Virus Myths home page" on the World Wide Web at http://www.kumite.com/myths. George C. Smith maintains the "Crypt Newsletter home page" on the World Wide Web at http://www.soci.niu.edu/~crypt.
Press Contacts:
Computer virus myths researcher
http://www.kumite.com/myths
email: us@kumite.com
George C. Smith, Ph.D.
Editor, Crypt Newsletter
http://www.soci.niu.edu/~crypt
email: crypt@sun.soci.niu.edu
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