Support grows for controversial virus writing course

The tide has turned in favour of the University of Calgary, earlier this week lambasted for announcing it will run a virus writing course for computer science students.

However, the majority opinion still appears to be opposed to the controversial course.

But whereas earlier in the week all voices appeared to be dissenting, support for the course is burgeoning.

silicon.com reader Damien O'Donnell said: "In order for any headway to be gained in combating computer viruses a programmer must learn about how viruses are constructed, whether this be done with the aid of a university course or not."

Another silicon.com reader, Phillip Bourke, said: "Call me cynical, Sophos should be delighted that there is a course on virus writing. More viruses, more sales of anti-virus software. Or maybe the fact is that if software developers understood virus exploits then there would be no need for anti-virus software."

"Well done Calgary University I think it's an excellent idea," he added.

silicon.com reader Peter Morrison added: "The ability to understand how viruses work both internally and externally would be essential in the fight against them. This hopefully is the actual aim of running such a course and therefore to ban such students from employment in the future may rob the anti-virus industry of an invaluable resource."

Reader James Bourne added: "The only way to combat viruses is to know how they work. Do people think that virus experts at anti-virus software companies do not know how to write a virus? Of course they do. If educational courses are aimed at prevention and cure then I see no problem."

However, the majority of users and industry bodies remain unswayed by the arguments, with most calling for Calgary University to rethink the running of the course.

Similarly the major anti-virus vendors are adamant that there will be no place in their organisations for students of this course - negating the purported reasons for running it in the first place. Until that stance changes the motives of Calgary University will most likely remain in question.

Whatever you think about this subject you must have an opinion one way or the other. Email your comments to editorial@silicon.com.