[comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d] What is trek.exe doing

doc@holin.ATT.COM (David Mundhenk) (01/13/89)

This is a portion of the output from "chk4bomb.exe" when run
on "trek.exe" from the recent "egatrek" posting in 
comp.binaries.ibm.pc.

Several of us here think this is a little suspicious and would
like some other opinions on this, possibly even from the author.
The part "dir c:\*.exe...." is strange, to say the least.
Any explanations?
#################################################################

[]  CHECKING FOR BOMBS AND ASCII CHARACTERS IN FILE TREK.EXE.
[]  
[]  Note that some machine code will print as ASCII characters and
[]  appear as gibberish....other ASCII strings in the program will
[]  be readable. Most programs have the code first, followed by data.
[]  
[]  CHECKING 147120 BYTES
[]  
[]  EXE file...skipping header of 15024 bytes.
[]  
[]  [....stuff deleted...]
[]  
[]  EGA Trek
[]  NCC-17018Hint: Never warp with your shields up. It wastes energy.
[]  Live long and prosper.)Hint: Always use PhoTorps at close range.
[]  ;May the great bird of the galaxy roost on your home planet.
[]  :Hint: Mine for spare dilithium crystals whenever possible.U
[]  @RSP
[]  @RSP
[]  C:\> dir *.exe
[]   Volume in drive C is HARDDISK
[]   Directory of  C:\
[]	'TSRTEST  EXE     7520  12-01-87  12:52p
[]  	'123      COM   129480   4-28-88   7:46a
[]	'MW       EXE    99030   7-13-86   5:00p
[] 	'INSTALL  EXE     1024   1-01-80  12:00a
[]	&        4 File(s)   2947072 bytes free
[]  C:\> _U
[]  BGI Triplex font  V100 - 19 October 1987
[]  Copyright (c) 1987 Borland International
[]  TRIP
[]  BGI Device Driver (EGA/VGA)  V1.00 - 31 September 1987
[]  Copyright (c) 1987 Borland International
[]  640 x 200 EGA
[]  640 x 350 EGA
[]  640 x 480 VGA
[]  640 X 350 EGA MONO
[]  
[]  [...more stuff deleted...]
[]  
[]  ****WARNING****
[]  This program uses the ROM BIOS routines for direct disk access.
[]  This program COULD format a disk or write to certain sectors without
[]  updating the directory or File Allocation Table.
[]  DO NOT RUN this program until checked by an expert, unless you
[]  are familiar with the author or company.
[]  
[]  
[]  <END OF FILE>  147120 Bytes in file were read.

doc@holin.ATT.COM (David Mundhenk) (01/13/89)

BTW, Sorry about the ^M's in this posting - I tried to
get rid of them....

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
EMAIL: ...!att!holin!doc  | "I can't complain but |   /^,
VOICE: (201)-949-5308     |  sometimes I still do"|  /  } _, , , __
#include <std.disclaimer> |  - Joe Walsh          | /_./ (_l |/ <~_
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teittinen@cc.helsinki.fi (01/13/89)

In article <324@holin.ATT.COM>, doc@holin.ATT.COM (David Mundhenk) writes:
> This is a portion of the output from "chk4bomb.exe" when run
> on "trek.exe" from the recent "egatrek" posting in 
> comp.binaries.ibm.pc.
> 
> Several of us here think this is a little suspicious and would
> like some other opinions on this, possibly even from the author.
> The part "dir c:\*.exe...." is strange, to say the least.
> Any explanations?

Some of the text deleted...

> []  @RSP
> []  @RSP
> []  C:\> dir *.exe
> []   Volume in drive C is HARDDISK
> []   Directory of  C:\
> []	'TSRTEST  EXE     7520  12-01-87  12:52p
> []  	'123      COM   129480   4-28-88   7:46a
> []	'MW       EXE    99030   7-13-86   5:00p
> [] 	'INSTALL  EXE     1024   1-01-80  12:00a
> []	&        4 File(s)   2947072 bytes free
> []  C:\> _U

If you have read the DOC-file that comes with TREK.EXE then you should
have noticed that there is a "panic key" in the program. I don't
remember what is it, but it meant to be used "when the boss wanders by"
and it brings a typical DOS-screen on your display. The test that
appears is just the one above. Though there is a mistake - as anyone can
see - it says "dir *.exe" and there is 123.COM in the file list :-)

I tried the program a couple of times, but then deleted it from my disks
because though it has great graphics, it does not bring anything really
new to a game that is too easy to win. But it never did anything harmful
to my disks or anything that gives me a reason to suspect it is a virus,
but I used it only a couple of times as I said.

-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------------
    EARN: teittinen@finuh          I "Studying is the only way to do nothing
Internet: teittinen@cc.helsinki.fi I  without anyone complaining about it."
-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------------
             Marko Teittinen, student of computer science
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

cpp90221@dcscg1.UUCP (Duane L. Rezac) (01/14/89)

From article <324@holin.ATT.COM>, by doc@holin.ATT.COM (David Mundhenk):
> 
> 
> Several of us here think this is a little suspicious and would
> like some other opinions on this, possibly even from the author.
> The part "dir c:\*.exe...." is strange, to say the least.
> Any explanations?
> #################################################################
> []  C:\> dir *.exe
> []   Volume in drive C is HARDDISK
> []   Directory of  C:\
> []	'TSRTEST  EXE     7520  12-01-87  12:52p
> []  	'123      COM   129480   4-28-88   7:46a
> []	'MW       EXE    99030   7-13-86   5:00p
> [] 	'INSTALL  EXE     1024   1-01-80  12:00a
> []	&        4 File(s)   2947072 bytes free
> []  C:\> _U

Hey, lets RTFM before posting a question like this....
the doc's state that if you enter Shift-F1 while playing the game, it 
enters "BOSS" mode- that is, it displays the above data on the screen to 
make it look like you have a directory listing on the screen instead of 
playing a game on company time... (of course we *NEVER*  do that ;-)
I've tried it, and IT WORKS JUST LIKE THE DOC'S STATE
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{
{

-- 
+-----------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Duane L. Rezac        |These views are my own, and NOT representitive of  |
| dsacg1!dcscg1!cpp90221|my place of Employment.                            |
+-----------------------+---------------------------------------------------+

doc@holin.ATT.COM (David Mundhenk) (01/17/89)

In article <438@dcscg1.UUCP> cpp90221@dcscg1.UUCP (Duane L. Rezac) writes:
>From article <324@holin.ATT.COM>, by doc@holin.ATT.COM (David Mundhenk):
>> Several of us here think this is a little suspicious and would
>> like some other opinions on this, possibly even from the author.
>> The part "dir c:\*.exe...." is strange, to say the least.
>Hey, lets RTFM before posting a question like this....
>the doc's state that if you enter Shift-F1 while playing the game, it 
>enters "BOSS" mode- that is, it displays the above data on the screen to 
>make it look like you have a directory listing on the screen instead of 
>playing a game on company time... (of course we *NEVER*  do that ;-)
>I've tried it, and IT WORKS JUST LIKE THE DOC'S STATE

You're right, I'm wrong, I'm sorry....  
If I had thoroughly read "trek.doc" I would have seen the discription
of the "BOSS" mode.
That doesn't mean that I shouldn't run chk4bomb on the program,
and ask about suscpicious-looking code.
I just should thoroughly investigate it, and not be so hasty :-}
Sorry about the bandwidth....
-Dave