peter@sugar.UUCP (Peter da Silva) (01/05/88)
I don't think you're paranoid enough. Just because people have been hiding viruses in boot blocks up to now doesn't mean that's where they'll always be. Real viruses hide in all sorts of places you wouldn't expect (I believe Herpes goes dormant in the spinal cord between outbreaks), and computer ones will be as effective in hiding. Write protect all your utility disks, except when you're actually copying a file to them. Hard disks are harder... you can always just not mount it while trying untrusted software. That way you'd at least know something was wrong when it hit the hard drive to erase all your files. Also (this is to the ST guy): And don't get fooled... a trojan horse is just a dumb virus. Just because your computer has its O/S in ROM doesn't mean you're virus proof. I know a bit about the ST, and there are quite a few places a virus would find nice and cozy. Finally: Do you think we should discuss some of these places viruses may hide? Pro: forewarned is forearmed (boy, I'd look funny with 4 arms). Pro: protection by ignorance has been shown to be a bad idea for mainframes. Con: since we can't do anything about many of the obvious places, it doesn't help to have more people know about them. Con: we're not the whole Amiga community, but we know there are virus authors among our ranks. Pro: if anyone's nasty enough to want to take advantage of our discussion, and good enough to do so, they've probably already figured out all the good hiding places anyway. -- -- Peter da Silva `-_-' ...!hoptoad!academ!uhnix1!sugar!peter -- Disclaimer: These U aren't mere opinions... these are *values*.
bill@cbmvax.UUCP (Bill Koester CATS) (01/09/88)
In article <1354@sugar.UUCP> peter@sugar.UUCP (Peter da Silva) writes: >Do you think we should discuss some of these places viruses may hide? NO!!! Nor do I think we should talk about different ways a virus could work. Lets not give any potential virus writers any ideas. I still think we should talk about virus's just not specific methods. > > Con: we're not the whole Amiga community, but we know there are > virus authors among our ranks. If you read the letter I posted then you know we are positive they are among are ranks! At least on usenet. -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Bill Koester (CATS) >>Commodore Amiga Technical Support<< Commodore International Ltd. UUCP ..{allegra|burdvax|rutgers|ihnp4}!cbmvax!bill PHONE (215) 431-9355