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Computer Viruses, Artificial Life and Evolution: The Little Black Book of Computer Viruses
Book by Ludwig, Mark A.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 29, 2014
Well, I didn't like it. I'm surprised I finished it. (Does that earn it the OK-star?)
About 25% of the book was pretty interesting, most of which was in the last part on evolution. The author used viruses (and AL) as a means to concretely explore evolution. Viruses can evolve, but random mutations drawn from a uniform distribution don't suffice to evolve them to more complex forms or explain their genesis. And we don't know where the information in the more complex forms came from.
As far as the philosophy of life goes, viruses satisfy a bunch of properties of life, but biologic life may depend on something incalculable (or unmeasurable), so we really don't know in the end. A lot of words were used to argue that we don't know.
All-in-all, it was a rather negative book.
(There have been many advances in related fields in the past 20 years, so perhaps I should give it another star as a benefit of the doubt, hmm :p)
About 25% of the book was pretty interesting, most of which was in the last part on evolution. The author used viruses (and AL) as a means to concretely explore evolution. Viruses can evolve, but random mutations drawn from a uniform distribution don't suffice to evolve them to more complex forms or explain their genesis. And we don't know where the information in the more complex forms came from.
As far as the philosophy of life goes, viruses satisfy a bunch of properties of life, but biologic life may depend on something incalculable (or unmeasurable), so we really don't know in the end. A lot of words were used to argue that we don't know.
All-in-all, it was a rather negative book.
(There have been many advances in related fields in the past 20 years, so perhaps I should give it another star as a benefit of the doubt, hmm :p)
December 2, 2013
This book presents a theory of computer viruses as a form of life. Dr. Ludwig draws on not just computer science and biology but also philosophy. Overall, the book is fascinating, presenting arguments both for and against the idea of viruses as a form of electronic life.
Though it is probably typical of people in the STEM fields, the writing style is a bit dry. Ludwig also seems to have written to an audience that is as well-versed in about five different sciences as he is.
The examples of viruses he presents are all old DOS viruses, but the basics are still pretty relevant.
Though it is probably typical of people in the STEM fields, the writing style is a bit dry. Ludwig also seems to have written to an audience that is as well-versed in about five different sciences as he is.
The examples of viruses he presents are all old DOS viruses, but the basics are still pretty relevant.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews