Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!cs.umn.edu!mmm.serc.3m.com!pejacoby From: pejacoby@mmm.serc.3m.com (Paul E. Jacoby) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps Subject: Re: Virus Programs Message-ID: <1991Apr26.130358.2711@mmm.serc.3m.com> Date: 26 Apr 91 13:03:58 GMT References: <2519@lee.SEAS.UCLA.EDU> Reply-To: pejacoby@mmm.serc.3m.com (Paul E. Jacoby) Distribution: comp Organization: 3M - St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 US Lines: 38 In article hoepfner@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov (Patrick Hoepfner) writes: > The other thing is that the authors of Disinfectant and Virus Detective > have no plans to update their programs to handle the new HyperCard virus > (MacWEEK 4/16/91). SAM and Virex (from Microcom) have been updated to > handle thisnew virus. You would have to find out if GateKeeper offers > protection from this virus. But you need to keep this in context--both Jon Norstad and Jeff Shulman have apparently said that the reason they will NOT update is because the virus is written in HyperTalk, and as such is easily modifiable to avoid whatever detection-mechanism they implement. Will everyone who uses SAM or Virex be forced to upgrade again and again as various individuals modify the HC script for the new virus? >>Also, SAM is not as user-friendly as Dis. > This is a matter of opinion! When you have more features and options > you have more items to change. If you don't modify SAM's default > settings, then it is as easy to use as Disinfectant (IMHO). While I will not deny the SAM has more options, it is FAR from friendly with even the defaults. The reason I say this is that blasted floppy-scanning dialog! It has to be the most intrusive, obnoxious, machine-slowing bits of code every written. The fact that Disinfectant's INIT can do the same job without so much as BEEPING makes me hate SAM all the more. And why should I be warned by SAM every time the Font/DA Mover adds something to the System file? This is normal behavior, but it can scare the beejeebers out of a neophyte user. "The documentation TOLD me to do this, and now the program is giving me a virus!" Personal opinions also; I am forced to use SAM at work, and dislike it immensely. I use Disinfectant at home exclusively. -- .--------------------------------------------------------------------. | Paul E. Jacoby, 3M Company | | | Maplewood, MN 55144-1000 | Parachuting? Why jump out of a | | => pejacoby@3m.com | perfectly good airplane? |