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From: blob@Apple.COM (Brian Bechtel)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: Re: Viruses in Sound Effects (Mac)
Message-ID: <0008.9010011435.AA28524@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 28 Sep 90 22:30:29 GMT
Sender: Virus Discussion List <VIRUS-L@LEHIIBM1>
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Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu

pjc@sirius.melb.bull.oz.au (Paul Carapetis) writes:
>It is my belief that any file on the mac which is capable of
>displaying itself as an icon has executable code to do so.  If this is
>true, then ANY file is open to infection by a virus designed to take
>advantage of this.

No.  Icons consist of 32x32 bitmaps.  An icon may be displayed for a
file which has no resources at all, only data (for example, a plain
text file.)  Icons are displayed by the Finder, using a desktop
database which ties a specific file type and file creator to a
specific icon.  No code is taken from the file itself.

For more information, read "The Finder Interface," chapter 1 of Inside
Macintosh, volume III.

- --Brian Bechtel                               blob@apple.com
  Advanced Technology Group		"My opinion, not Apple's"
  Apple Computer, Inc.