Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ginosko!ctrsol!cica!iuvax!bsu-cs!mithomas
From: mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Michael Thomas Niehaus)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Virus Protection for AppleShare File Servers?
Keywords: virus, appleshare
Message-ID: <8148@bsu-cs.bsu.edu>
Date: 10 Jul 89 05:06:56 GMT
References: <5956@hubcap.clemson.edu>
Organization: CS Dept, Ball St U, Muncie, IN, USA
Lines: 44

In article <5956@hubcap.clemson.edu>, mmccann@hubcap.clemson.edu (Mike McCann) writes:
> How does one protect the AppleShare file server from viruses?  Will
> running Vaccine on it work?  Or will the dialog box produced upon
> detection of a virus hang the server?  

I debated this with myself before, and came to this conclusion:  You do not
need to protect an AppleShare File Server from viruses.  How can I make such
a statement?  Well, install the AppleShare software and maybe the
Print Server software as well.  Use something like Virus Rx and make sure
that you did not install a virus (very unlikely if you are using original,
locked disks).

Now that your software is installed, you are safe because *THAT IS THE
ONLY SOFTWARE EVER RUN* from the server.  All of the other files on the
network are data files.  Viruses cannot be spread from these data files.
Now, if you were to shut down your server, boot with another disk, and run
some of the software that is on that server's disk *ON THE SAME SERVER
MACHINE* then you could infect the server.  But, I recommend against
doing this.

The stations on the network that are using the software from the servers
are the ones that need to be protected.  If one of them put a virus in one
of the oft-used applications on the server, it would spread to all of the
stations in a matter of days (or less).  But since the server never runs
this software, it will remain unscathed.

> Also as a new administrator of a small AppleShare network, any other
> helpful hints will be welcomed.

Put your applications in locked folders so that viruses cannot be installed
into them.  Put Vaccine or something like it on all of the workstation's
system disks.  Check the workstation disks regularly.

> Mike McCann       (803) 656-3714   Internet = mmccann@hubcap.clemson.edu 
> Poole Computer Center (Box P-21)       UUCP = gatech!hubcap!mmccann
> Clemson University                   Bitnet = mmccann@clemson.bitnet
> Clemson, S.C. 29634-2803         DISCLAIMER = I speak only for myself.

-Michael

-- 
Michael Niehaus        UUCP: <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!mithomas
Apple Student Rep      ARPA:  mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu
Ball State University  AppleLink: ST0374 (from UUCP: st0374@applelink.apple.com)