Has it been mathematically proven that antivirus can't detect all viruses?












6















What analysis was Bruce Schneier referencing when he wrote:




Viruses have no “cure.” It’s been mathematically proven that it is always possible to write a virus that any existing antivirus program can’t stop." [0]



[0] Secrets & Lies. Bruce Schneier. Page 154











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    6















    What analysis was Bruce Schneier referencing when he wrote:




    Viruses have no “cure.” It’s been mathematically proven that it is always possible to write a virus that any existing antivirus program can’t stop." [0]



    [0] Secrets & Lies. Bruce Schneier. Page 154











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      6












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      6


      4






      What analysis was Bruce Schneier referencing when he wrote:




      Viruses have no “cure.” It’s been mathematically proven that it is always possible to write a virus that any existing antivirus program can’t stop." [0]



      [0] Secrets & Lies. Bruce Schneier. Page 154











      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      Cate is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      What analysis was Bruce Schneier referencing when he wrote:




      Viruses have no “cure.” It’s been mathematically proven that it is always possible to write a virus that any existing antivirus program can’t stop." [0]



      [0] Secrets & Lies. Bruce Schneier. Page 154








      malware virus antivirus detection






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      edited 22 mins ago









      forest

      34.4k16113118




      34.4k16113118






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      asked 6 hours ago









      CateCate

      311




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          2 Answers
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          Under one possible interpretation of that, it's a result of Rice's theorem. A program is malicious if it performs some malicious action, which makes it a semantic property. Some programs are malicious and some aren't, which makes it a non-trivial property. Thus, by Rice's theorem, it's undecidable in the general case whether a program is malicious.






          share|improve this answer
























          • Ah I think this is indeed what Schneier was referencing. This answer is better than mine.

            – forest
            4 hours ago






          • 3





            I'm not a mathematician, but I might guess that Godel's incompleteness theorems might also apply.

            – Steve Sether
            3 hours ago



















          1














          According to Wikipedia:




          In 1987, Fred Cohen published a demonstration that there is no algorithm that can perfectly detect all possible viruses.




          It also references this paper. That might be the analysis Mr. Schneier was referring to.






          share|improve this answer























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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            11














            Under one possible interpretation of that, it's a result of Rice's theorem. A program is malicious if it performs some malicious action, which makes it a semantic property. Some programs are malicious and some aren't, which makes it a non-trivial property. Thus, by Rice's theorem, it's undecidable in the general case whether a program is malicious.






            share|improve this answer
























            • Ah I think this is indeed what Schneier was referencing. This answer is better than mine.

              – forest
              4 hours ago






            • 3





              I'm not a mathematician, but I might guess that Godel's incompleteness theorems might also apply.

              – Steve Sether
              3 hours ago
















            11














            Under one possible interpretation of that, it's a result of Rice's theorem. A program is malicious if it performs some malicious action, which makes it a semantic property. Some programs are malicious and some aren't, which makes it a non-trivial property. Thus, by Rice's theorem, it's undecidable in the general case whether a program is malicious.






            share|improve this answer
























            • Ah I think this is indeed what Schneier was referencing. This answer is better than mine.

              – forest
              4 hours ago






            • 3





              I'm not a mathematician, but I might guess that Godel's incompleteness theorems might also apply.

              – Steve Sether
              3 hours ago














            11












            11








            11







            Under one possible interpretation of that, it's a result of Rice's theorem. A program is malicious if it performs some malicious action, which makes it a semantic property. Some programs are malicious and some aren't, which makes it a non-trivial property. Thus, by Rice's theorem, it's undecidable in the general case whether a program is malicious.






            share|improve this answer













            Under one possible interpretation of that, it's a result of Rice's theorem. A program is malicious if it performs some malicious action, which makes it a semantic property. Some programs are malicious and some aren't, which makes it a non-trivial property. Thus, by Rice's theorem, it's undecidable in the general case whether a program is malicious.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 4 hours ago









            Joseph SibleJoseph Sible

            1,310315




            1,310315













            • Ah I think this is indeed what Schneier was referencing. This answer is better than mine.

              – forest
              4 hours ago






            • 3





              I'm not a mathematician, but I might guess that Godel's incompleteness theorems might also apply.

              – Steve Sether
              3 hours ago



















            • Ah I think this is indeed what Schneier was referencing. This answer is better than mine.

              – forest
              4 hours ago






            • 3





              I'm not a mathematician, but I might guess that Godel's incompleteness theorems might also apply.

              – Steve Sether
              3 hours ago

















            Ah I think this is indeed what Schneier was referencing. This answer is better than mine.

            – forest
            4 hours ago





            Ah I think this is indeed what Schneier was referencing. This answer is better than mine.

            – forest
            4 hours ago




            3




            3





            I'm not a mathematician, but I might guess that Godel's incompleteness theorems might also apply.

            – Steve Sether
            3 hours ago





            I'm not a mathematician, but I might guess that Godel's incompleteness theorems might also apply.

            – Steve Sether
            3 hours ago













            1














            According to Wikipedia:




            In 1987, Fred Cohen published a demonstration that there is no algorithm that can perfectly detect all possible viruses.




            It also references this paper. That might be the analysis Mr. Schneier was referring to.






            share|improve this answer




























              1














              According to Wikipedia:




              In 1987, Fred Cohen published a demonstration that there is no algorithm that can perfectly detect all possible viruses.




              It also references this paper. That might be the analysis Mr. Schneier was referring to.






              share|improve this answer


























                1












                1








                1







                According to Wikipedia:




                In 1987, Fred Cohen published a demonstration that there is no algorithm that can perfectly detect all possible viruses.




                It also references this paper. That might be the analysis Mr. Schneier was referring to.






                share|improve this answer













                According to Wikipedia:




                In 1987, Fred Cohen published a demonstration that there is no algorithm that can perfectly detect all possible viruses.




                It also references this paper. That might be the analysis Mr. Schneier was referring to.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 1 hour ago









                Harry JohnstonHarry Johnston

                357110




                357110






















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