Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!cert.sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: djb@wjh12.harvard.edu (David J. Birnbaum) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Re: Virus in Text Files Message-ID: <0006.9004091138.AA06134@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 6 Apr 90 19:12:21 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 21 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu It is possible for a text file to contain ansi instructions to remap your keyboard, e.g., mapping a format or a global delete command (with the appropriate response to any y/n query) to a single key. This is not a virus, but it can be considered a trojan horse. The ansi command will only take effect if the file is typed to the screen; merely having it around does no harm, nor does looking at it with other types of file viewers. Ansi commands will only work if you are running an ansi driver of some sort. Keyboard remapping only works if you have configured your ansi driver to allow it. I use PC Magazine's ansi.com version 1.3 and configure it to disallow keyboard remapping. - -David ============================================================ David J. Birnbaum djb@wjh12.harvard.edu [Internet] djb@harvunxw.bitnet [Bitnet] ============================================================