ash@uunet.uu.net (12/01/89)
I have seen conflicting descriptions of what the Marijuana virus displays on the screen. Not being afflicted myself, touch wood, I don't know whom to believe. Three sources I have seen claim that the "Legalise marijuana" message is seen, and ALan Solomon recently said at a Melbourne seminar that this message is embedded in the virus code, and is not seen on the screen. This anomaly is a minor issue, but it set me wondering how does the average user (beginner) know when a virus has struck her/him? There is no shortage of virusbusters able and willing to help such people for a fee. It would be a good idea for someone who has samples of all known viruses to create a "virus demo" program using something like Dan Bricklin's Demo for the purpose. I haven't seen this program (DB's D), so I don't know if it could mimic all viruses. It would also not work with a virus that does its damage in the background and leaves no screen message. Our user group would like to create a library of viruses for testing new antivirus programs, but I appreciate that no self-respecting custodian of samples would turn over copies to us without some cast-iron guarantees of keeping the samples under lock and key. Hence the suggestion for a harmless virus demo for known culprits that leave a screen symptom. Ash Nallawalla, Editor PC Update, Melbourne PCUG.: ============================================================================= Ash Nallawalla ?[D?[D?[D Tel: +61 3 823-1959 Fax: +61 3 820-143 4 ZL4LM/VK3CIT Postal: P.O. Box 539, Werribee VIC 3030, Australia.