Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ncar!tank!cps3xx!eecae!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: munnari!mlacus.oz.au!ash@uunet.uu.net Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Virus Demos? (PC) Message-ID: <0010.8912011659.AA11997@ge.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 1 Dec 89 08:26:11 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 31 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu 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. Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com