[Year 12 IT Apps] Netbus Back Orifice - textbook concern

[Maggie Iaquinto]

On p 238 of the Potts and Keane textbook, a paragraph contains a 
discussion of desktop monitoring systems.

“Two popular and easily obtainable desktop monitoring packages are 
Netbus and BackOrrifice [sic].”

Now, these two apps are viruses. They will be picked up on most systems 
by virus detection software.

Are they popular? Most likely, with hackers.
Are they easily obtainable? You bet. Just use a search engine and 
download them.


My concern lies with the lack of discussion that these tools are 
viruses. No system administrator will use these tools because they are 
not fully documented so we don't know exactly what is compiled in them. 
Basically, they are backdoors --- and to where?

When I read that paragraph, it seemed that these tools are acceptable. 
IMHO, they are not acceptable and would harm the system.

So, let's say there is a question on the final exam about desktop 
monitoring and the ethics etc of using such tools. And the students 
write that system administrators can easily download the popular Netbus 
or Back Orifice programs. And let's say that an exam assessor, who feels 
as I do that the use of such programs is harmful, marks it as wrong.

The Potts and Keane textbook has much which is laudable and commendable. 
But, I think that this one section needs clarification.

I may have misread the paragraph and have drawn the wrong conclusions. 
In the spirit of helpful, positive debate, what do others think?

Maggie