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Antonio Robateau

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Conflicts of Interest in the (Anti-)Malware Industry

A conflict of interest in this discussion is a situation between any two parties where there is potentially more to gain from helping yourself than there might be in actually helping the other party. Leave your opinion on the extent of conflicts of interest in the Anti-Malware/AntiVirus/Anti-Spyware Industry?

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Topics: Antivirus Conflicts of Interest antimalware antispyware computer hacking computer virus conspiracy
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    Krisztián Pintér 200+

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    TED Translator
    Jul 21 2011: conflict of interest exists in the car repair industry. repairmen are interested in leaving your car in bad shape so you have it repaired again.

    conflict of interest exists in the food service industry. they are interested in leaving you hungry, so you buy more food.

    conflict of interest exists in every possible kind of business, since with serving you with any goods or services, they convert one customer to one satisfied non-customer.

    does that make sense?

    • Antonio Robateau

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      Jul 21 2011: Those who think for themselves are well aware of that. Unfortunately, many take their 'trust me' word for it. This conversation could evolve into an entire TED Talk if we were to expand it to include Car Repair/Parts, Medicine (HIV), Insurance Policies, Food (Monsanto), etc. which would cease to exist if they were 100% purist and effective.

      But to keep slightly on topic... wasn't being 100% effective some of the lost glory of the old days (I'm thinking up to the 1950's) where things were made to last 'forever' and products and services aimed at maximizing potential rather than just minimizing risk? Is this innocense lost? Is it achievable beyond the achievements of the stated era?
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    Cheta Manuel

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    TED Translator
    Jul 19 2011: Let me start with a question: why do some antiviruses catch only some types of viruses? Isn't it sometimes obvious that some viruses are created by the companies?
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      Judge Pau 50+

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      HostTED TranslatorAssociate
      Jul 21 2011: Even without such foul play, the entire concept is a paradox.
      The analogy to organic virus is perfect... since when a cure ever be one step ahead of the disease ?
      That's why whitelisting technology is on the rise.
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        Cheta Manuel

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        TED Translator
        Jul 21 2011: Whitelisting tech seems much like a total lockdown, only letting normal application run. A very good idea indeed. I must admit that I didn't heard of whitelisting technology until now. That would make an antivirus useless, wouldn't it?
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          Judge Pau 50+

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          HostTED TranslatorAssociate
          Jul 21 2011: Allowing only normal application to run is only one application (forgive the pun) of whitelisting technology which can be applied to many other things such as the firewall. *wicked smile*.

          With virus it most likely to be use to prohibit system files to be changed without authorization.

          Combine this with roll-back or snapshot technology, I say yeah... antivirus' days are pretty much numbered.
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