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From: hartung@amos.ucsd.edu.ling.ucsd.edu (Jeff Hartung)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Binary: McAfee's SCANV52 (latest version, includes AIDS)
Message-ID: <7664@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu>
Date: 7 Jan 90 01:21:37 GMT
References: <1027@tuminfo1.lan.informatik.tu-muenchen.dbp.de> <13153@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu>
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Reply-To: hartung@amos.ucsd.edu.UUCP (Jeff Hartung)
Organization: Univ. of Calif., San Diego
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In article <13153@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> tim@cit-vax.UUCP (Timothy L. Kay) writes:
#kluge@lan.informatik.tu-muenchen.dbp.de (Oliver Kluge) writes:
#>This is McAfee's SCANV52 in its latest version 1.8V52 virus checker
#> [uuencoded binary deleted]
#
#Ever since the virus scares started, I have stopped using free software
#unless I really needed it.  I would love to run this virus detector,
#but it seems to me that a virus detector is a perfect place to transmit
#a new virus.
#
#The only way I would feel comfortable running such a program obtained
#over the net is if it were distributed in source form.  I would then
#compile it myself and use it.
#
#Does anybody have similar feelings?  Is there a reason that the source
#is not included in the previous posting?
#
#Tim

I feel that there is no significant risk in obtaining such programs from 
moderated newsgroups, WSMR-SIMTEL20, or McAfee's BBS in particular, but I
think that anyone that downloads such stuff from unmoderated discussion groups
such as this one (where, BTW, it is in very poor taste to post binaries in the
first place, Oliver >:-( ) is asking for trouble.  It is doubtful that the
poster would be stupid enough to distribute a virus in such a way
intentionally (with his/her name and e-mail address attached :-), but very
probable that a virus could thus be sent out UNintentionally.

With a verified copy of SCAN 1.8v52 (or whatever the latest is), I think that
one can download and use binaries safely.  Just the same, don't forget to
backup that hard disk often.  :-)

 --Jeff Hartung--  	
 Disclaimer: My opinions only, etc., etc., BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!...
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