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MYTH: "all purposely destructive code spreads like a virus" (advanced discussion)

Rob Rosenberger says:

Newspaper reporters tend to turn to these people for information (and quotes) to back up a story about viruses. This means the press literally feeds information to computer security people, who gladly regurgitate it for other reporters, who write more stories about viruses, which other computer security people read... thus creating an endless circle of misinformation and a never-ending supply of "instant experts."

The same survey concluded on a sad note: it estimated only one-third of employees tasked with computer security duties had adequate knowledge about computer viruses.

For further reading

• "Computer Viruses and 'False Authority Syndrome'"