BKSHKWAV.RVW  930923

"Shockwave Rider", John Brunner

Two science-fiction books are generally mentioned in regard to computer viral
programs.  "When H.A.R.L.I.E. Was One" by David Gerrold is the other. 
(Interestingly, both books had two editions:  in both cases the role of the
viral-type program was reduced in the later edition.  Further similarities I
cannot comment on--I have been completely unable to locate a copy of Gerrold's
work.)

A reasonably crafted and amusing diversion.  A little slow off the mark for my
taste, but the "psychodrama" cerebrations of the start give way to action by
about the one-third mark.  Good wins out over evil, the nice guys finish first
and "appropriate" technology wins the day.

Enough small talk.  What about the virus?

The "tapeworm", as it is referred to in the book, comes in very close to the
end.  It is a creation of the hero (a computer genius, naturally) used as a
tool to end the secrecy and oppression of the ruling elite.  The world of the
"Shockwave Rider" (the United States of the not very distant future) has a
universal information network.  Audio, video and data channels are all tied
together, and anyone can request information about anything from any terminal. 
The elite, of course, get the information, the masses get sanitized info and
propaganda.

The tapeworm is a security-breaking program.  It is not clear, from the text,
whether the tapeworm reproduces.  There seem to be some reproductive references
to multiple "Leads":  these might be additional copies of the initiating
program.  However, unlike programs we think of as viral, the tapeworm does not
copy itself and attach to existing files.  Instead, the tapeworm adds existing
data and programming to itself.  This allows it to provide information to
requesters, and to circumvent the security and privacy measures of the ruling
class.  (The tapeworm is also incredibly intelligent.  It is able to assess and
correlate completely dissimilar data points and present them appropriately to
the user.  Hypermedia to the max.)

References to the tapeworm indicate a size that would preclude reproduction. 
The authorities are not unable to kill it because of defence mechanisms or
numbers of copies.  Rather, the authorities are prevented from even attempting
to kill the tapeworm as the tapeworm has assumed into itself the network
programming.  To kill the tapeworm is, therefore, to kill the net.

Reasonably good read.  Zero information about "real world" viral programs. 
Interesting conjectures.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993   BKSHKWAV.RVW  930923
 
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Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" (Oct. '94) Springer-Verlag