[comp.virus] Jerusalem virus infects boot sector ? No!

CHESS@YKTVMV.BITNET (David.M..Chess) (10/27/89)

No, the only viruses I've ever heard called "Jerusalem" infect
only COM and EXE files.   So either what you were reading just
contains an error (happens to all of us!), or they're using the
name "Jerusalem" to describe some other virus (not a good idea...).

DC

CHESS@YKTVMV.BITNET (David.M..Chess) (10/27/89)

I wrote to Jan T. about this, and he confirms that the "Jerusalem"
does *not* infect boot sectors.   His officially-distributed list
of virus signatures doesn't say that it does, so what you were
reading was probably a version that someone else had modified
by inserting wrong information.  Message from Jan follows.

(Note that the "Virscan" program that he's talking about is *not*
the IBM Virus Scanning Program, but another program whose
executable is also called VIRSCAN...)

" I would appreciate if you could explain that the list that is distributed via
" the "Software Distribution Network" on FIDONET is a *verified* list of virus
" signatures that has been extensively tested by a number of people. The list
" contains a notice not to distribute modified copies of the original file.
" For those without access to other networks, the latest fresh copy of the
" VIRSCAN.DAT file is available on any of the "SDN" nodes in FIDONET within 24
" hours after the master copy on 2:512/10.0 is refreshed. The file is usually
" available as VIRUSSIG.ZIP or VIRUSSIG.PAK
" Anything that is not directly pulled off a "SDN" node is probably not the
" original......
"
" There were several modified versions of the file going round with the wrong
" information and 1 version of the file rendered the Virscan program useless
" because of the info being in the wrong format, pointing to EXE instead of COM
" files, etcetera.
"
" <JT>