Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!cert.sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: cdss!culliton@uunet.UU.NET (Tom Culliton) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Re: Virus in Text Files Message-ID: <0005.9004091138.AA06134@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 6 Apr 90 16:55:36 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 19 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu RKARRAS@PENNSAS.UPENN.EDU (Dr. Ruth Mazo Karras) writes: > I have heard of a concern that text files (consisting of plain ASCII text) > may contain viruses. I had thought that only executable files such as > *.com or *.exe files were subject to viruses. Which view is right? Is there > risk in moving a text file from a mainframe to a PC? How many times has this question been answered? If you can't execute the file or run it via an interpreter it can't carry a virus. If its source code for a compiler or interpreter the danger is present that it contains malicious instructions but visual inspection can quickly settle that. Most viruses are on PC class machines and are specific to one architecture. Moving a text file from a mainframe to a PC is about as safe as you can get without typing with c*****ms on your fingers. The rest is all chicken little syndrome from people who don't know what they're talking about. (Sorry if that sounded a bit hot, I've been fighting a running battle with the chicken little types about it.) BTW, Modem viruses and setup memory viruses are also fictional for the same reason, its simply not possible to execute them.