Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcsun!ukc!edcastle!own
From: own@castle.ed.ac.uk (O Morgan)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: viral risk of shareware/PD
Message-ID: <6868@castle.ed.ac.uk>
Date: 26 Oct 90 13:42:27 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh School of Agriculture
Lines: 23

Sorry if this question has already been treated ad nauseum...
I'd like to know peoples opinions about how 'hygienic' it is  to
download files from c.b.i.p. (and Ftp sites such as Simtel & chyde.fi). 
This is mainly due to colleagues feeeling uneasy at the ammount 
of external programs I am downloading for evaluation, and I would like 
to know if there is justification for quaranteening my machine.

My feeling is that since these programs are tested and moderated, then
any virus/trojans will have manifested itself before being posted,
(unless it's a delayed action one, using a mechanism that is not catered
for by the antiviral programs?).  
Also, for shareware, since the developper has to identify himself in
order to receive subscriptions, it would seem illogical to include
programs with harmful side effects - then again you never know.

Has there been any instances of epidemics spreading via c.b.i.p.
or FTP sites?

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Olly Morgan  **** Tel: (+44 31) 662 4395  **** E.Mail: O.Morgan@ed.ac.uk
 Scottish Agricultural College.             Edinburgh EH9 2HH,   Scotland
----------------------------------------------------------------------------