Something finally put the hÿpe in Hyppönen

Rob Rosenberger, Vmyths co-founder
Sunday, 22 August 2004

NETWORK WORLD FUSION published an intriguing headline this month. "Security expert Q&A: The virus writers are winning," it blared. This headline concerned me — because it was about an interview with Mikko Hyppönen (F-Secure). NWF's headline violates an old adage which says "there is no hÿpe in Hyppönen."

Antivirus software may eventually fail, says Mikko Hyppönen (F-Secure). "We might very well see a virus some day that we can't crack."

At first I figured NWF did a disservice with such an inflammatory headline. I felt more & more this way as I read the interview. But then I read the final quote from Hyppönen:

Viruses hit computers and networks all over the world in a matter of minutes. We can't handle it. Of the 100,000 viruses seen over the last 18 years we've cracked every single one. But it's not a given that will continue to be the case. We might very well see a virus some day that we can't crack.

NWF did peg Hyppönen's remarks with their "virus writers are winning" headline. The voice of F-Secure believes the entire global antivirus brain trust "might very well" fail us someday. Believe it, folks — antivirus software has a finite lifespan. Then it'll be obsolete and the viruses will be unstoppable! Enjoy your fragile utopia while it lasts. Oh! And let me be the first to offer condolences to F-Secure's entire customer base. It's only a matter of time before their antivirus "solution" stops solving their problem...