Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!mcvax!ukc!dcl-cs!bath63!pes
From: pes@ux63.bath.ac.uk (Smee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Virus (vaccine - UK mostly)
Message-ID: <2104@bath63.ux63.bath.ac.uk>
Date: 21 Jan 88 12:15:35 GMT
Reply-To: pes@ux63.bath.ac.uk (Smee)
Organization: AUCC c/o University of Bath
Lines: 41

(The first bit of this might be of 'world' interest.  The last bit may not.)
(From an article in Popular Computing Weekly today, excerpted without
permission.)

The manager of Silica Shop has commented that the situation is very serious,
'Especially for those ...  in the retail trade where you're demonstrating
software all the time, and suddenly, Bash, half your stock is gone.' (The
problem, of course, being that even a 'friendly gosh-amn't-I-clever' virus
will completely screw up commercial disks which rely on the boot sector for
protection or startup.) He fears 'the brand new user may be put off buying
programs or even Amigas'.

(Quick mini-flame) -- I think the people who write viruses ought to be
strung up by their (pick a sensitive bit according to the sex of the
perpetrator) and left for the vultures.  They don't do anyone any good, and
even the 'fun' ones aren't...

(Useful bit, at least in the UK) -- A 'virus killer' which *should* deal
with both the original 'SCA' and the 'mutated CCW' viruses can be got by
sending a blank 3.5 inch disk, and a stamped address envelope (so they can
return your disk) to:

    Amiga Virus Killer
    Silica Shop
    1-4 The Mews
    Hatherly Road
    Sidcup, Kent  DA14 4DX

(I think someone mentioned a North American source for this.  If any other
non-UK folk want to try it, that's in England -- and you'd probably need to
include an addressed envelope and some International Reply Coupons instead
of the stamps.)

Disclaimers: I don't know if the killer works or is safe.  I don't use an
Amiga.  I have no connection with PCW except as a reader; and I have no
connection with Silica Shop except that I occasionally buy things from them
for my <machine the mere mention of whose name in this newsgroup would set
off another round of flame wars>, and I've always found them helpful and
knowledgeable about that.

Good luck.  I really mean that, even if I do still prefer my <***>...