This book is now coming to an end however the adventure has only just started. At this stage, the reader should be familiar with basic viral algorithmics and should better comprehend not only the world of viral and antiviral programs but also its techniques and stakes. It is the author's fond hope that the reader has realized how these techniques and knowledge are essential for a proper computer security policy and that, as a result, they cannot accept dishonest and criminal behaviour.

Viruses are absolutely not mysterious living things even though media tend to think so. Viruses are only programs written by programmers and nothing else. Viruses are not inevitable in any way and the best solution is to learn how to live with them as we usually do with their biological counterparts.

It is important to bear in mind that any successful antiviral protection relies heavily on the human factor namely, software designers, security officers, systems administrators and users. Viruses can only exist, reproduce and spread if at least one of these four human components has made a mistake.

• Software designers, while developing software did not remaove all the potential security holes. These weaknesses constitute real possibilities that any virus writer will successfully exploit.

• Security officers failed to define a clear and efficient computer security policy matched to their employers' requirements, or failed to have it applied. Such a rigorous policy is essential. But it may be even more important that the policy be...