Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!cert.sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: PLUIMERS@rulcri.leidenuniv.nl (Jeroen. W. Pluimers) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Software Upgradable BIOS (PC) Message-ID: <0002.9105281939.AA08091@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 25 May 91 03:02:00 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 38 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu >Intel has announced a chip which would allow users to upgrade their >BIOS using a floppy disk. The term I saw was "erasable programmable >read-only memory (EPROM)," but more likely the actual technology >in the chip is EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) or >EAROM (electrically alterable ROM). >From what I understand this is quite common, most ROM BIOS manufacturers use EEPROMS which can be repogrammed when you have: a) the new EEPROM image (on disk or as an (EEP)ROM) b) and EEPROM programming device that can program that kind of EEPROM c) a very strong UV lamp to erase a programmed EEPROM At first sight I wouldn't be too much afraid from what Intel says now. It would be a whole other story if PC's became able to deliver the programming voltages and some way of eraseing pieces of an EEPROM. That way, virusses might possibly alter the BIOS in such a way a virus would be effective from before the POST and protect itself in a very nasty way. Cheers, Jeroen W. Pluimers P.S.O. snail: P.O. Box 266 2170 AG Sassenheim The Netherlands phone: +31-2522-11809 18:00-21:00 UTC fidonet: 2:281/521 2:281/515.3 bitnet: FTHSMULD@HLERUL52.BITNET PLUIMERS@HLERUL5.BITNET internet: fthsmuld@rulgl.LeidenUniv.nl pluimers@rulcri.LeidenUniv.nl