jmorriso@fs0.ee.ubc.ca (John Paul Morrison) (08/07/90)
Don't panic, I haven't discovered any Windows viruses yet, but I have a word of caution, even if you do use a virus scanner. My virus scanner, scan by Macafee by default only seems to look at .exe and .com files. Fine for DOS but a lot of shareware/pd programs also use .dll libraries. .drv files also have executable code and if I'm not mistaken, .fon font files can have code too (I'm just guessing, since they have the message "This program requires Microsoft WIndows" in them) IF your virus checker looks at all files, then I guess there is no problem. BUt should any Windows specific viruses show up, they won't find them anyway. If anyone disagrees, I'd like to know; it seems that if anything that has executable code in it, it is a source of dangera. John Paul Morrison
stevens@shiva.trl.oz (Tony Stevens) (08/08/90)
jmorriso@fs0.ee.ubc.ca (John Paul Morrison) writes: >My virus scanner, scan by Macafee by default only seems to look at .exe and >.com files. Fine for DOS but a lot of shareware/pd programs also use .dll >libraries. .drv files also have executable code and if I'm not mistaken, >.fon font files can have code too (I'm just guessing, since they have the >message "This program requires Microsoft WIndows" in them) The MacAfee Document file specifies the following: "Use the /E option to scan specified overlay files. Scan will default to OVL, OVG, OV1, OV2, OVR, SYS, BIN and PIF. Scan will search these overlay files for any viruses capable of infecting overlays. If you are using an application with overlay extensions other than the defaults, then specify the extension names (up to three) using the /E option. Example: SCAN C: /E .ABC .XYZ .123 " So you can therefore test any overlay file associated with Windows or any other programme. Tony Stevens Manager Plans & Programmes Telecom Australia Research Labs. Melbourne, Australia.
brianf@umd5.umd.edu (Brian Farmer) (08/09/90)
In article <2043@trlluna.trl.oz> stevens@shiva.trl.oz (Tony Stevens) writes: >jmorriso@fs0.ee.ubc.ca (John Paul Morrison) writes: > > >The MacAfee Document file specifies the following: > > "Use the /E option to scan specified overlay files. Scan will > default to OVL, OVG, OV1, OV2, OVR, SYS, BIN and PIF. Scan will > search these overlay files for any viruses capable of infecting > overlays. If you are using an application with overlay extensions > other than the defaults, then specify the extension names (up to > three) using the /E option. Example: > > SCAN C: /E .ABC .XYZ .123 > " >So you can therefore test any overlay file associated with Windows or >any other programme. > One big problem here windows does not use overlays, windows uses segmented executables. In a windows .exe file first there is a standard dos exe which windows reads past when loading the .exe. These .exe's are very similar to OS2 .exe's. If this scanner just looks for a certain string of bytes it might work but if it reads the .exe structure it may not know the format of a windows .exe. I don't know whether or not it will work but I would not consider my windows .exe's vacinated until the virus checker says it can check window's .exe's. Brian Farmer brianf@umd5.umd.edu