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DVForge Announces The Mac OS X Virus Prize March 26, 2005 - For Immediate Release Today, DVForge, Inc. announces the Mac OS X Virus Prize 2005, where our company is openly challenging all of the computer coders of the world to go after the $25,000 cash prize that we are offering to the first person to successfully create and deploy an "in the wild" active virus for the Mac OS X operating system. For the contest, a 'virus' is defined as executable code that attaches itself to a program or file so that it can spread from one computer to another, leaving infections as it travels between computers. For the contest, an 'in the wild' virus is defined as one that is able to spread as a result of normal day-to-day usage onto two or more randomly selected computers that are connected only via the internet. "Symantec Corporation has recently released information to the press suggesting that they believe that the Mac OS X platform is at substantial risk to a new virus infection, and that the principal reason that OS X presently has zero in-the-wild virii is simply the lack of interest by virus coders, due to the platform's comparatively small market share," says DVForge CEO, Jack Campbell, "We recognize that assessment as complete nonsense, and, we have chosen to make a challenge that is interesting enough to grab the attention of any malicious coder... $25,000 worth of interesting. I happen to believe that Apple should be offering this prize. But, since they have not, I will. On behalf of knowledgeable Mac users everywhere, I am putting my money where my mouth is." The Contest We have designated two G5 Powermac computer systems, each running an unmodified retail installation of OS X 10.3 Panther, each located in the Hendersonville, Tennessee area, but located approximately 3-miles away from each other in entirely different facilities. The only network connection between the two systems is the internet. Both Powermacs are in minimum 8 to 12 hour per day, five to seven day per week usage, and run any number of popular Mac software applications. Each uses OS X mail.app as the email client, and Safari as the web browser, with neither machine or its LAN having a firewall in use. Each is connected to the internet through an unencrypted Airport network, to a full T-1 line. Each day, we will scan both Powermacs for the presence of an OS X native executable virus, using a commercially available virus scanning utility. The day we locate a copy of the same virus running on both Powermacs, that virus is the winner of our contest. To win the contest, the person coding the virus must submit an email notice to us with a transcript of at least 32 contiguous characters of code included in the virus, a brief description of the functionality and symptoms of the virus, and contact information for contest notification and payment of the $25,000 prize. The prize will be awarded to the person whose 32-character code sample, and functionality and symptoms description match the actual virus detected on the two contest Powermacs. The Premise There has been much misinformation publicized recently about a supposed risk to the OS X operating system from virus attacks, with the 'risk' supposedly increasing as Mac computer sales are increasing. As a Mac dedicated business, and as a group of long-term Mac users, we know that these warnings are not true, and that there are a number of fundamental safeguards against virus attacks that keep the OS X operating system without its first in-the-wild virus. The 'small number' of Macs has nothing to do with the lack of virus incidents. It is the architecture of Apple's operating system that protects its users from these bugs. We are operating this contest until midnight July 31, 2005. Should the conditions for winning be met prior to that time, we will immediately award the $25,000 payment to the virus developer who succeeded in cracking the Mac's inherent immunities. Prize Doubled For Symantec DVForge, Inc. specifically invites the programming staff at Symantec Corporation to participate in our contest by creating and successfully delivering an executable virus to the two contest Powermacs. Should an employee or independent contractor of Symantec corporation win the contest, we will double the prize to $50,000 to that person. Further Information Complete details on the DVForge Mac OS X Virus Prize 2005 contest can be found at http://www.dvforge.com/virus.shtml . ABOUT DVFORGE, INC. Tennessee-based DVForge, Inc. is one of today's fastest growing consumer technology companies, specializing in high-style, high-function products in the computer, audio, pro music, and performance software product sectors. It develops, sells and supports industry-leading consumer technology products under a variety of market specific brands, including MacMice, ProSticks, PodBuddy, JamPlug, and others to launch in the near future. __________________________ Please visit our sponsors: BetterRAM.com(sm): Your Source for RAM http://www.betterram.com, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] or call 800-895-3493 MacTech(r) Magazine: The journal of Macintosh technology and development http://www.mactech.com, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED], or 877-MACTECH To submit a posting to MacDev-1, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to MacDev-1, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the SUBJECT line reading "SUBSCRIBE MACDEV-1". To unsubscribe, the SUBJECT line should read "UNSUBSCRIBE MACDEV-1". 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