Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!udel!sbcs!sboslab15!vallon
From: vallon@sboslab15.cs.sunysb.edu (Justin Vallon)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: WDEF virus:  Am I immune?
Message-ID: <4249@sbcs.sunysb.edu>
Date: 14 Dec 89 20:23:11 GMT
Sender: news@sbcs.sunysb.edu
Reply-To: vallon@sboslab15.cs.sunysb.edu (Justin Vallon)
Lines: 19

If the WDEF virus moves from disk to disk in Desktop files, then isn't using
the Desktop Manager effectively giving me a vaccination for any attempt
at spreading the WDEF virus?

Let's try to trace how the virus would get into my system.  I insert an
infected floppy.  Question 1:  Will it install itself into my Desktop file,
even though it isn't open?  Does it go around looking for Desktop files?

Let's say that it does get into my Desktop file.  It may as well not install
itself, though, because the virus is the only thing that will ever open the
Desktop file.

I now eject the infected floppy, insert a clean floppy.  Can the clean
floppy now be infected?

Just wondering.

-Justin
vallon@sbcs.sunysb.edu