RE: Beginner question re: CPYBTL

| Behalf Of Leif Svalgaard
|
| From: jt <jt@ee.net>
| > ===> Is it POSSIBLE to make the iSeries "hack-proof".
| >
| > So I was wondering about the back-end.  Afaik, the FAST400-type
| software is
| > the only successful (what-could-be-termed-as) "virus" that has
| run (and may
| > still be running, afaik) on a 400.
|
| calling FAST400 a virus is not correct. It does not spread, it is not
| harmful,
| you pay money for it, etc.

Poor terminology, perhaps.

But it IS software that is running, IN SPITE OF the intent of OS/400.  If
Rochester can't program a way to PREVENT it from running, then it is not all
that far off from a "virus".  That is, unless they are prevented by legal,
rather than technological reasons.

|
| >
| > CAN these kinds-a software be prevented...?
| >
| yes, but it requires a hardware change. This may be coming in the new
| POWER5+ systems in a few years. The SETTAG instruction and the
| surrounding instructions needed to manufacture a pointer could be
| moved into "firmware".

FASCINATING...!

But, RIGHT NOW, pragmatically speaking...?

Does it require hardware change to keep data/pgms (say, voting results and
algorithms) private, for all intents and purposes...