The Daily Teaser — 26-3-2015: Language Is A Computer Virus …

Oh, now that’s a thing … !

Bless him, you may — or may not — have realised I’ve a four year old nephew: called Jude.

He’s got quite quite a daffy sense of humour, Jude.

And he’s getting older: which is life, I’m afraid.

But … ?

But one of the pleasure of watching a child grown, is seeing them learn things.

Bless him, I think we can say Jude’s learnt to write his name.

Or START to, anyway!

That’s … 

Well … 

That’s all good!

~≈Ÿ≈~

But let’s get a move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* — sounding understandably pained — putting in her answers: and scoring eight out of ten.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 26th March, 1999, saw the release of the Melissa virus: which spread through Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Word.   What type of software is MS Word?

Q2) What kind of application is MS Outlook?

Q3) True or false: Melissa is classed as a virus, because it needs to attach itself to something to spread?

Q4) Computer viruses are a form of what’s called ‘malware’: the word is a contraction of what phrase?

Q5) One type of malware disguises itself as an innocent form of software: and is named after which mythical wooden object?

Q6) Back in 2010, Security firm, Symantec, named Shaoxing as the ‘malware capital of the world’.   In which Asian country is Shaoxing?

Q7) What name is given to malware that allows someone to bypass your computer’s normal login process: a front door, back door or porch door?

Q8) What name is given to malware that locks you out of your computer system, until you pay the software’s maker?

Q9) In 2005, Sony’s music division issued copy protection software that effectively acted as malware: and left security holes in people’s PCs.   What was that software on: DVDs, blu-ray films or music CDs?

Q10) Finally … the first computer virus was called Creeper: and started infecting machines in which year of the 1970s?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 12 noon, on the 25th March is the traditional date for the founding of Venice.   In which year: 420AD, 421AD or 422AD?

A1) 421.

Q2) Venice is in which country?

A2) Italy.

Q3) Which region of its home nation is Venice the capital of: Piedmont, Lombardy or Veneto?

A3) Veneto.

Q4) The city is on the coast of the coast of which sea: the Atlantic, Mediterranean or Adriatic?

A4) The Adriatic.

Q5) Famously, the city’s on a what: lake, loch or lagoon?

A5) Lagoon.

Q6) The city’s founding matches that of one of its oldest churches.   That church is dedicated to whom: Saint Mark, Saint Paulo or Saint Giacomo?

A6) Saint Giacomo.

Q7) Paolo Lucio Anafesto was reputed to be the city’s first leader.   As such, what was the title he would’ve held?

A7) Doge.

Q8) Shylock is a main character in The Merchant Of Venice.   The Merchant Of Venice was written by whom?

A8) William Shakespeare.

Q9) Which 13th century Venetian merchant wrote about his travels in China?

A9) Marco Polo.

Q10) And finally … what’s the name of the traditional boat used to transport people in Venice?

A10) A gondola.   (Or gondole, if you want the plural … )

I’ll leave you with this thought …

“Our examination of computer viruses leads us to the conclusion that they are very close to what we might define as ‘artificial life.’ Rather than representing a scientific achievement, this probably represents a flaw in our definition.”

Gene Spafford.

And this video … 

Have a good day.

*       Oh, heck, you would ask, Debbi!   I’ve a couple of tens coming, followed by a five: but don’t worry TOO much, getting recovery’s more important!