Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!news.cs.indiana.edu!msi.umn.edu!cs.umn.edu!cybrspc!roy From: roy%cybrspc@cs.umn.edu (Roy M. Silvernail) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps Subject: Re: Virus Utility???? Message-ID: Date: Thu, 21 Mar 91 18:31:08 CST References: Organization: Villa CyberSpace, Minneapolis, MN sardana@remus.rutgers.edu (Sandeep Sardana) writes: > > Hi! Netters, > > I'm looking for a virus utility that scans the entire > data space (all file formats) for an msdos PC. I currently have > a utlity that'll only scan .EXE & .COM files. McAfee's SCAN will scan .COM, .EXE, .SYS and .OV? files for you, as well as your boot sector. Beyond those types, scanning is of little value, since a virus must be executed to do any damage. ANSI bombs are a special case, but don't qualify as viruses. These are ANSI keyboard redefinition sequences hidden within textfiles. They only work if you TYPE the file from the DOS prompt, and any common textfile viewer (such as LIST.COM) will show the escapes and subsequent commands. You can remove this danger by using ANSI.COM as your screen driver, invoking with the '/b 0' option, or re-assembling NANSI.SYS to disallow redefinition. -- Roy M. Silvernail -- roy%cybrspc@cs.umn.edu - OR- cybrspc!roy@cs.umn.edu perl -e '$x = 1/20; print "Just my \$$x! (adjusted for inflation)\n"' [space reserved for clever quote]{mail your submissions}