Controls proposed for virus scare mongering

An internet security company is in the process of putting forward a code of conduct to the government to prevent exaggerated claims being made over viruses, such as Mydoom, which send fear into the hearts of internet users.

Chy Chuawiwat, managing director of Clearswift Asia Pacific, responsible for filtering out malicious code and pornography from emails and web content, believes that viruses such as Mydoom are not as dangerous as people have made out: "The easiest thing to do with a virus such as this or Bagle is to not open any executable messages from anybody you don't know. There is very little information sent out about preventing the virus from spreading with stories that tell of how much danger they can cause companies.

"I am suggesting that we set up an industry-wide code of conduct in Australia which vendors, analysts and the media can voluntary sign up to. The code of conduct would require these people to provide information about how to stop the virus and it would also make them substantiate any facts and figures. At the moment, too many sweeping statements and random facts are sent out with the warnings, without any details on how this information was gathered.

A press release might claim that a virus is spreading at a rate of 40 percent per hour, but we don't know where those facts have come from. Does that relate to a company in the US with 500 staff, a business in Singapore with 5 staff, or somebody's office in Sydney?"

So far, Chuawiwat has written to Daryl Williams, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, the NOIE (National Office for the Information Economy) and the Internet Industry Association for support with this proposal.

He hopes to have the code of conduct ready by the end of March and expects players in the industry will gradually sign up to it, so that people will eventually receive comprehensive information on how to deal with viruses in the future: "I think it will take a while for this industry code of practice to take off, but it should grow and grow over time. I intend to open send a proposal to the U.S. and the U.K. too. It's all about educating and informing people, instead of frightening them. The same way when you drive on a wet road, you want to know how to slow down to avoid skidding instead of being told how many people died there. We shouldn't be encouraging people to lose confidence in the internet industry unnecessarily."

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