Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!debudapg
From: debudapg@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Peter de Buda)
Newsgroups: ut.general
Subject: Re: **PC Virus Outbreak (STONED)**
Message-ID: <1989Dec8.170905.23263@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca>
Date: 8 Dec 89 17:09:05 GMT
References: <89Nov23.171846est.19490@me.utoronto.ca> <1989Dec4.195246.8850@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> <1989Dec7.201636.10400@me.toronto.edu>
Distribution: ut
Organization: University of Toronto Computing Services
Lines: 43

In article <1989Dec7.201636.10400@me.toronto.edu> sun@me.utoronto.ca (Andy Sun Anu-guest) writes:
>In article <1989Dec4.195246.8850@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> debudapg@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Peter de Buda) writes:
>>In article <89Nov23.171846est.19490@me.utoronto.ca> rwh@me.utoronto.ca (Russell Herman) writes:
>>>The 'STONED' virus has infected 2 PCs in the satellite room here in
>>>Mechanical Engineering.  It will eventually reformat your hard drive
>>>if undetected.
>>>
etc.
>>
>>The above-mentioned virus has hit PC/compatibles in the
>>chemical engineering department (December 4, 1989).
>>
>>I have no hard evidence, but at this time, I would be
>>wary of the CCIE network in general, and of the
>>MATLAB program in particular.
>>
>
>The three IBM Token-Rings of CCIE are read-only. Strictly speaking, they cannot
>be infected. We have a PC-network in the Mechanical Satellite Room and it 
>was not-being infected since we've set both hard disks to read-only. Only the
>two stand-alone machines with an HD in them were infected. I would worry
>about the 8 PS/2 Model 50Zs in MC404A instead of the network servers. And
>I don't see any logical reason why 'MATLAB program in particular'.
>
etc.

I apologize.

According to what I learned since I wrote my previous message,
the STONED virus can spread from floppy disk to hard disk, and
from hard disk to floppy disk (although I still do not understand
in what circumstances it does so).  Therefore, I agree that there
is >> NO << logical reason to suspect the MATLAB program in particular.

I accept the assurances of Andy Sun Anu-guest that the CCIE hard
disks are not infected.

One statement I do not retract.  The STONED virus is spreading.

Peter de Buda           debudapg@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca
Dept. Chemical Engineering
   and Applied Chemistry
978-5100