[From comp.risks digest:] Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 12:40:09 EST From: "Rob Slade, Social Convener to the Net" Subject: Risks of living on the left side of the continent Memoirs of a (coastal) virus researcher Some people may not be aware that, by disconnecting the modem and attaching a device known as a "telephone", communications circuits may be used for voice communications. Unfortunately, unlike email, "telephone" calls must be synchronous (or, more correctly, bisynchronous) in that both parties must be active on the circuit at the same time. With the rise in modern communications technologies, scenes like the following are becoming more common: RRING RRING RMS : Hello? DFP: Hi! I'm looking for, ummm, Robert Slade? RMS: Speaking. DFP: Oh, good. My name's _____ ____ and I'm with the Detroit Free Press. I've got a copy of your book, and I thought we could do a story on this computer virus situation. RMS: Uh huh. DFP: I read most of it, and I liked it, but I've got a few ... sa-a-a-y. Isn't Vancouver on the *West* Coast? RMS: Usually. DFP: Oh, gee, I'm really sorry. See, we're three hours ahead, and ... gee, should I call back later? RMS: No, that's OK, I had to get up and answer the phone anyway. DFP (puzzled): Oh, really? Why's that? RMS: It was ringing. I love reporters. They always get the straight lines right. ====================== DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters Editor and/or reviewer ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733 Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" 0-387-94311-0/3-540-94311-0 ======================================================================