PHR050@ibm.southampton.ac.uk (Andrew McLean) (03/26/91)
I (sometimes) have access to an Atari ST with an software PC editor (PC-ditto). It occurs to me that if the emulator works well then it "should" be able to spread a virus just like a real PC. It also occurs to me that not all computers have hardware write protect on their floppy disks. The big question is can I safely put a write protected floppy into the ST drive while running a PC emulator (or otherwise) or am I in danger of aquiring a virus. What I particularly have in mind is my "trusted" DOS boot disks and disks containing virus scanners which are permanantly write protected (the write protect tabs are glued open or removed). Andrew McLean | Janet : PHR050@UK.AC.SOTON.IBM Department of Physics | Earn/Bitnet : PHR050@IBM.SOTON.AC.UK The University | or : PHR050%UK.AC.SOTON.IBM@UKACRL Highfield | INTERNET : PHR050@IBM.SOTON.AC.UK Southampton SO9 5NH | uucp : PHR050%UK.AC.SOTON.IBM@ukc.uucp tel. 0703 593084
jerryf@alfalfa.com (Jerry Feldman) (04/18/91)
In reply to Andrew Mclean's query about the Atari ST. First, when running PC-DITTO, PC-DITTO II, or other PC emulator, the Atari ST is a PC CLONE. However, a PC VIRUS cannot place itself onto a write-protected diskette. The Atari file system is identical to the PC file system, and a PC virus could install itself onto an ST or PC partition on the hard disk. Since the Atari's OS (GEM and GEMDOS) is in ROM, viruses are not as prevatent on the ST. Regards, Jerry Feldman Director, Atari ST User Group The Boston Computer Society One Kendall Square Building 1400 Cambridge, MA 02139 USA - ---- ProLine: jerryf@pro-angmar Internet: pro-angmar!jerryf@alfalfa.com UUCP: uunet!alfalfa!pro-angmar!jerryf