urlichs@smurf.ira.uka.de (Matthias Urlichs) (03/22/89)
In comp.sys.mac alexis@ccnysci.UUCP (Alexis Rosen) writes: < In article <380@biar.UUCP> trebor@biar.UUCP (Robert J Woodhead) writes: < > < >In general, not much at all. No known nVIR virus is malevolent. Most < >do nothing. Some attempt to speak or make sounds. < < Well. Fortunately, that appears to be true now. However, the original nVIR < *WAS* malevolent, deleting files once out of every sixteen times. Whatever < people say about Mattias Urlichs' common sense, we probably have him to < thank that that strain is now, apparently, extinct. < You can say that about my common sense again. (BTW, my first name is Matthias :-) Unfortunately, at the time this virus first appeared (it seems to have originated in Germany), numerous people (including Apple Germany) did not believe it was possible for virus code to exist on the Macintosh. And because this critter was really malevolent I didn't have any other choice (no Usenet access, things like that) but either to sit tight and watch people run screaming to their dealers because the System folder keeps dropping files into the trashcan by itself, or to fight it back with its own methods. Pushing people to install KillVirus (my own nVIR-blocking INIT) did not work. I wholeheartedly agree that letting people convince me to put part of the sources onto CompuServe's MACDEV library (that was some months later) was not very bright of me. But I think I've improved since then. :-) PS: Last year's April edition of MacUp (a German Mac magazine) described in detail how to perform the ultimate virus protection: Open your disks and slide a condom over the rotating surfaces inside. Then glue the open end of the condom and put the disk back into its envelope. This, incidentally, is also an argument pro buying Macintoshes because IBM disks (5 1/4 ") are too big to get condoms over them. :-) -- Matthias Urlichs -- Humboldtstrasse 7 -- 7500 Karlsruhe 1 -- FRG urlichs@smurf.ira.uka.de -- ++49+721-621127@PTT
reynhout@wpi.wpi.edu (Andrew Reynhout) (09/21/89)
from my hard drive. I tried Interferon, but my copy is either infected or
ineffective. Same end result, I'm still sick.
It's old to all of you, but I'd also appreciate any information on the virus
itself...Origins/effects/whatever. I can't see any symptoms on my HD, except
for the existence of "nVIR" rsrcs in system files, and every application I've
run in the past two days. (That's actually the only way I noticed it...)
Anyway, again...Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Andrew (reynhout@wpi.wpi.edu)
a/k/a: Andrew Reynhout
WPI Box 2457
100 Institute Rd
Worcester, MA 01609-2280 (508)755-8336d88-jwa@nada.kth.se (Jon W{tte) (09/22/89)
In article <4129@wpi.wpi.edu> reynhout@wpi.wpi.edu (Andrew Reynhout) writes: >for the existence of "nVIR" rsrcs in system files, and every application I've >run in the past two days. (That's actually the only way I noticed it...) Don't use Interferon, Use Disinfectant 1.2 (and use ot from a locked startup disk. Your dealer could help you setting one up, I think) Nad try not to type the message on the Keywords: line... h+ -- When you are on the top, the only way is down.
trebor@biar.UUCP (Robert J Woodhead) (09/25/89)
d88-jwa@nada.kth.se (Jon W{tte) writes: >Don't use Interferon, Use Disinfectant 1.2 (and use ot from a locked >startup disk. Your dealer could help you setting one up, I think) Right. Interferon is obsolete. Use Disinfectant or (plug) Virex. Both do a nice job; Virex has some extra features and you get phone support. BTW, thanks to everyone who sent in contributions to the vision fund (We are still getting about $100 a week). -- (^;-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-;^) Robert J Woodhead, Biar Games, Inc. !uunet!biar!trebor | trebor@biar.UUCP ``I can read your mind - right now, you're thinking I'm full of it...''