Chapter 6--Computer and Network Security

Chapter six had a lot to do with the nature of worms, viruses and other threats to network security. It seems that most of the folks who created worms and viruses did so in order to exploit the weak spots in a network's system. I wonder why these weak spots weren't "patched" prior to implementing the system? I guess what I'm asking is why can hackers find these weak spots before the software systems do? Does it have to do with the pressure to get certain products to market, warts and all? Case in point: the new iPhone. This has been the buzz of the phone industry for better part of a year and right away there is nothing but problems with it, and people are already finding ways to get internet acces without activating the phone through AT&T. Tell me that's not a major loophole. So why didn't the folks at apple see this coming? Maybe they knew it had these weaknesses, but couldn't do anything in time for the anticipated release. Similar stuff happened with the Xbox 360 and the PS3 when they were released. Hackers simply make these and other products better by showing the manufacturers where the weaknesses are. It's sort of a never-ending arms race which leads to better and better products and systems that are harder for average people to mess with. All in all, I think that's a good thing. I know that a lot of innocent people have their computers pretty messed up because of some viruses, but the general populace benefits from finding solutions to these problems. Just like they mentioned in the text about how viruses and diseases will kill a lot of people, the survivors are safeguarded against the virus in the future and are stronger for it.