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From: MAIMER@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Big fish man on hippocampus)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: Re: mac virus question from amateur radio packet (PC)
Message-ID: <0003.9104261444.AA20785@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 25 Apr 91 02:08:00 GMT
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Brian Riley writes:
>>------------------------------msg------------------------------------
>>From: ka2bqe@ka2bqe.#nwvt.vt.usa.na (Brian Riley)
>>
>>  That WDEF A is 'mostly benign' is questionable. I recently had a query
>>made to the network about an infestation of nVIR B. Upon recommendation, I
>>obtained Disinfectant 2.4 and went to work cleaning house in the corporate
>>tower at the Village of Smuggler's Notch Resort where I do some part time
>>computer work. Of some 14 machines I scanned and cleaned, every one was
>>infected with a nVIR B that came to us attached to a copy of Stuffit 1.5.1.
>>Moreover every single HD desktop was infected with WDEF A. 85% of the
>>floppies were infected. Most machines were SE's or Plus's and a few
>>Classics, no II's. All system were complaining of 'minor annoyances';
>>premature program terminations, a number of the Plus's had Europa 20
>>external HD's and all of them were 50-50 whether or not they would boot
>>from HD. There were anumber of other complaints that are hard to
>>categorize. ALL complaints stopped upon removal of WDEF A! I installed the
>>Protection INIT and everything has run smooth for several days with 0
>>complaints.
>>
>>  I am sort of new to Macs (I have 8 years on PCs!) and its brand of virii,
>>but this experience would have to make me think that, while not maliciously
>>catastrophic, WDEF A is far from  'mostly benign!'

It seems to me that the effects can't be attributed to WDEF since nVIR
was also on the infected drives.  It has been my experience that
although WDEF gets around quickly, that it is not much of a problem
with the older machines.  On the other hand, nVIR (which has made its
rounds here) is more of a pain and interferes with proper oiperation
much more often than WDEF.

Also, benign doesn't neccessarily mean that it doesn't cause any
problems; it just means that it doesn't go out looking for trouble.
Think of a benign brain tumor; it doesn't eat up brain tissue, but it
does start putting pressure on the brain when it grows, eventually
destroying the tissue.  Pretty yummy analogy, huh? =-)

           |\   \\\\__       Tony Maimer                __
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