Advanced topic: BBSs, Internet, shareware

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MYTH: "BBSs, the Internet, and shareware programs spread most viruses" (advanced discussion)

Rob Rosenberger says:

In his book Inside the Norton Antivirus, Peter Norton dismisses the myth about the dangers of downloaded software:

"Bulletin boards do more to spread the awareness of viruses [empasis added]... The primary method of communication concerning viruses is through BBSes [sic]."

Robert Slade, writing in his book Guide to Computer Viruses, goes even further:

"If I had to choose one viral myth that contributed most to the unchecked spread of [viruses] that exists today, it would be that of the 'safety' of commercial software... The feeling of false security relies on three assumptions:

that [software downloaded from BBSs] is a major viral vector,
that commercial software is never infected...
that there are no viral vectors other than software."