The University of Calgary is about to introduce another controversial computer science course. Students will be taught how write programs that create e-mail spam as well as spy software.

It will be similar to an existing course where students learn how to create computer viruses. The aim is to develop new ways to fight these online nuisances.

Each student signs a legal form that says a breach of the security means an automatic "F" and a potential criminal investigation.

IMHO, people should have to be psychologically tested for suitability before being allowed to partake in these types of training.

Would you for example, want to allow anyone to take studies in explosives, saying that it would act as a deterant in some way? I mean, what about the psycho who want's to learn explosives for the motive of creating bombs for use...

Same should be true in software. Hey, if I think spam is a good way to make money, and there is a course to teach me how to do it... then kewl, I don't care. I just ingore all the parts in the course about suppressing spam,... and i'll just learn the technology for my own purposes.

Good one people.... Geeeze....