Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!crdgw1!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!portal!atari!apratt From: apratt@atari.UUCP (Allan Pratt) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Re: OS in ROM/RAM & viruses (was: Re: TOS 2.0) Message-ID: <2744@atari.UUCP> Date: 14 Nov 90 23:33:50 GMT References: <1990Nov06.213749.13906@ecst.csuchico.edu> <1990Nov14.140643.15703@cs.utk.edu> Organization: Atari Corp., Sunnyvale CA Lines: 15 A "bootable" floppy is one with an executable boot sector (checksum $1234). If you have a "bootable" floppy in the drive, the boot sector will be executed before the hard disk is hit. The executable code in the boot sector can, for example, install a virus, then end with "rts" to return to the ROMs, at which time the hard disk will boot. This is how the Key virus (and all other boot-sector viruses) work. You are safe from them if you have a disk in the drive which does NOT have an executable boot sector, or no disk at all. It's best to write-protect this disk, so nothing can write a virus into the boot sector. ============================================ Opinions expressed above do not necessarily -- Allan Pratt, Atari Corp. reflect those of Atari Corp. or anyone else. ...ames!atari!apratt