Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!DREW.BITNET!TLIMONCE From: TLIMONCE@DREW.BITNET Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Repost from BITNET -- the SCA Virus Message-ID: <8805271638.AA14839@jade.berkeley.edu> Date: 27 May 88 16:32:00 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Lines: 102 This message was recently on Bitnet's Info-Amiga discussion: I added a note in []'s. -------- cut here --------- From: BITNET%"A4422DAE@AWIUNI11" 27-MAY-1988 09:29 To: TLIMONCE Subj: Virus (SCA) Date: Thu, 26 May 88 15:36:58 MEZ Reply-To: Info-Amiga List Sender: Info-Amiga List From: Konrad Neuwirth Subject: Virus (SCA) To: Tom Limoncelli Hi out there, I found something that could interest you. In the may issue of a german computer magazine (Data Welt) there was an interview with the guy who programmed the SCA Virus (or at least they say so). I have translated it and here it is: D.W.: Where did you get the idea to program a virus for the amiga? SCA: I had read a bit about viruses in computer magazines and already found out about it on the computer of the university. I also knew that AmigaDOS is very similar to the VMS operating system of the VAX computer family, where many viruses are known. So I and another AMIGA user had a row if it was possible to create a virus on the amiga and distribute them. I went to work only to proof my belief. D.W.: Where did you get the know-how from? SCA: First I informed myself with all computer magazines about the mechanism of a virus. With the aid of a few computer books, I started to transfer my knowledge to the amiga. D.W.: But how came the quick distribution of the program? Didn't you have scruple? SCA: The first few copies I gave a good friend of mine: this was only thought of as a gag, as he was one of the biggest skeptics about computer viruses. I never had the intention to cause trouble for anyone with it. Some time later, I called my friend and told him, how to deinstall the virus, but it was too late. Already after a month, the first copies in the usa showed up. The main source were illegal copies of software. I never thought that a virus could multiply that fast. I never was aware of the possible consequences. D.W.: What consequences did it have for you? SCA: Well, first i informed my friends how to get rid of the virus. But unfortunately the inforamtion did not go around as the virus. So i started to write virus-killers, which found the viruses and killed them, but there already were mutations, which my viruskiller didn't find. D.W.: How do you think about viruses now? SCA: I recognizedthe distribution as a evil and criminal thing to do, that is not a gentleman's work. I only can warn all programers about writing and ditributing a virus. Nobody gets anything -- not even the programmer who will get famous for a time... D.W.: Thank you for this interview. ---- The trick to kill the virus is, at least what i heared, to press the left button while booting. The screen will become green and the virusm will commit suicide. [ Bogus information about the Amiga 3000 removed... I corrected him on the bitnet. Ah hell, I'll leave it in. It's pretty funny. ] About the Amiga 3000: i read that the only official word by commodore about it was, that it will be released hopefully in december, and it will have a 68030. [ "Hopefully in december" Ha! December of what year?! I think someone mentioned that the designs haven't gone beyond lunch-table discussions yet. ] A very good virus killer is VirusX on one of the Fishdisks. If anyone wants it, i can distribute it. by and so long /konrad [ Any comments about that interview? Does it sound real to anyone? I don't know if anyone could make a virus that wouldn't spread "too fast". It is ironic that his friend doubted that one could be made, and he doubted that it could spread quickly. ] A // Tom Limoncelli -- TLimonce@Drew.Bitnet \ M // "Never trust a person that doesn't know machine language!" \ I \\// /\ G XX "Have you hugged your SO today?" / \ A -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The above are my views, not those of Drew University or my employer"