davids@uunet.UU.NET (David Scollnik) (09/26/89)
In a recent posting CZMUREK%DREW.BITNET@VMA.CC.CMU.EDU writes ... % I began to design a virus algorythm that would eventually serve % as the platform for the destruction of other viruses. It's purpose % would be to infect single programs, single disks, or multiple disks in % the first, second and third versions respectively. Before any alarm % sets in here about my intentions, I would like to say that the purpose % here is to aid in the effort to combat these little nasties. I thought many of you might be interested to know that at least one such "utility" has been written and distributed for the Amiga. The one I have heard of is called "System-Z" , which is composed of two parts , namely the System-Z "installer" and the Sys-Z "bootblock". When an Amiga is booted up from a disk containing the Sys-Z bootblock, it announces to the user that it is now present in memory ( until the machine in question is de-powered ) by way of a quick rainbow screen and a short series of musical notes. This program will identify a variety of Amiga specific viruses located in other disk's bootblocks, and allow the user the option of overwriting the bootblock of the infected disk with the Sys-Z bootblock. Apparently it does NOT write itself indiscriminately to other disk's bootblocks, but only when the user selects to do so. Many Amiga users do not consider this to be a virus , but many others do. In fact , at least one Virus Checker / Disinfectant / Obliterator I know of considers it to be a virus , and identifies it as such. The reason many do consider it a virus is the fact that it locates itself in the bootblock. I believe that this "utility" hails from Europe , and might even of been of a commercial nature. Perhaps someone else out there has more info on this creature. I have never actually seen it in action , only seen documentation on it in forums like this and in one Virus Killer's documentation. -- David P.M. Scollnik | UUCP: utstat!davids University of Toronto | bitnet: davids@utstat.utoronto Deptartment of Statistics | arpa: davids@utstat.toronto.edu (hi mom !!!)