Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!cert.sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: padgett%tccslr.dnet@uvs1.orl.mmc.com (A. Padgett Peterson) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: PREVENTION of Drive A: boots - Suggestions Please (PC) Message-ID: <0003.9104241322.AA17334@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 23 Apr 91 18:33:12 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 24 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu >From: act@softserver.canberra.edu.au (Andrew Turner) >a. Use of a ROM. The best way. According to Computer Shopper, ROMs run about $70 qty 1. Certain PS/2, Compaq, & Zenith PC have this standard. A ROM extension on a 8-bit card would also be simple & could be cheap but would have two drawbacks: 1) Memory would have to be allocated in the region of C800-F000 (segment) 2) Would use a slot. >b. Use of hardware modifications connected to a key switch mounted on > the case which would be used to enable/disable floppy boots. Don't think this would work since all that is required to boot is for the disk to be read. I do not think a switch could prevent selective reads without disbling any read. (unless you have a use for a write-only floppy). If you only have one floppy, you might be able to connect it as drive B to prevent booting if the BIOS does not halt with an error on boot - this is machine depandant but the cost (if it works) is essentially zero. The other possibility is via software. This will not protect against a cold (power-off) boot, but can trap . I believe McAfee's F-Prot does this. Not a 100% solution, but possibly into the 90's.