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: n054gi@tamuts.tamu.edu (Apurva Shah) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Re: Odd 77-byte files (PC) Message-ID: <0004.9105141950.AA12065@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 12 May 91 23:13:35 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 27 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu It is very likely that the files that were created having the _xe and _om extensions contained the headers of the respective EXE and COM files. This files are then used by some virus detection program to look for changes in the header of the original files. The assumption of course being that the infecting virus would have to change the header of the original file. To sum up these files are absolutely harmless! and erasing them also is no cause for concern. Since this is the first time I am posting in this news group, let me introduce my self. My name is Apurva Shah and I am a student from India. At present I am doing my Masters in Computer Science at the Texas A&M University. I have been working with PC based viruses for about two years. I was heading the anti-virus cell for V.M.C.I., which is a computer class in Bombay and have also authored the first public domain Indian anti-virus software called the NASSCOM Vaccine set. The NASSCOM vaccine set is a bunch of generic vaccines and anti-virus programs. I have a copy of the set with me, but would like to know how I may put it up on some intrested bulliten board so that others may use this software. Any help in this direction would be appreciated. Regards Apurva Shah