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From: arasmith@mathcs.emory.edu (David Arasmith)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Where can i find a VIRUS FREE virus/trojan hunting program???
Message-ID: <5300@emory.mathcs.emory.edu>
Date: 13 Apr 90 23:29:22 GMT
References: <1545@unsvax.NEVADA.EDU> <1990Apr11.171948.6198@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Reply-To: arasmith@mathcs.emory.edu (David Arasmith)
Organization: Math and Computer Science, Emory University, Atlanta GA
Lines: 25

>In article <1545@unsvax.NEVADA.EDU> @uns-helios.uucp (Mike Woolard) writes:
>>I have been reading several articles here in Las Vegas on various BBS's
>>that say "beware of this 'virus in disguise'...."  
>>
>>Where can i get a powerful screening program that i can be sure it is
>>not infected itself?
>>

Sorry, I can't leave this one alone! :-)  A fairly recent "Mathematical
Monthly" (Math. Assoc. of America - some 1990 issue) contains a proof that
no such screening program can exist.  That is, if a program can test for
every virus then it cannot guarantee it's own health.

I know this is of NO help (I saw that at least one person was kind enough
to point you in the right direction, so I figured I could be a jerk and get
away with it) however the article is pretty fun (in my own nerdy sense of
fun).



-- 
David M. Arasmith   |  arasmith@mathcs.emory.edu	        Internet
Emory University    |  {sun!sunatl,gatech}!emory!arasmith	UUCP
Dept of Math and CS |  
Atlanta, GA 30322   |  I should be working!  Gee....I wonder what's on TV?