[comp.virus] intentional viruses and happy face

XRJDM@SCFVM.GSFC.NASA.GOV (Joe McMahon) (06/05/90)

>I have had just the strangest thought about all of the commercial
>products out there on the market that protect from viruses, for
>example Symantec's Anti-Virus for the Macintosh -- a product that
>"learns"...

Two points: Deterction is the best solution to viruses. Find them and
replace the programs if you want to be sure you're safe. Second, I
know where SAM's author lives :-). Seriously, you've got to trust
someone.  Especially that if someone got caught doing that, I'm sure
that there are plenty of existing laws they could be convicted under
(extortion?).

>Subject: Mac Happy Face turns into a Devil... (Mac)
>
>I just experimented with a public Mac which wasn't
>working too well. When I watched it boot up, the usual
>smiling Macintosh icon turned into a devil with horns,
>fangs and a long tail. I checked it with Disinfectant 1.8
>and found nothing.

Does the "Welcome to Macintosh" window appear afterward? If not,
someone's probably put a startup screen in the System Folder. I just
tried this - I got my Mac to stick out its tongue at me :-).

 --- Joe M.