Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!jarthur!polyslo!vlsi3b15!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: MAINT@UQAM.BITNET (Peter Jones) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Scanning MAC diskettes on a PC Message-ID: <0009.9003051143.AA06715@ge.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 2 Mar 90 20:00:34 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 24 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu After reading how the WDEF virus on the MAC propagates when an infected disk is inserted in the MAC, I would like to suggest the approach of using a PC with a 3 1/2 drive to scan the MAC diskettes and check for viruses. Assuming the PC hardware can read everything the MAC can, this would be safer, IMHO, than using a MAC for this task, for the chance of a virus being able to infect both a MAC and a PC seem remote. Using the MAC to scan DOS diskettes may also be possible, but something would have to be done to prevent the MAC from assuming the disk is legitimate when inserted. This approach would also avoid the casual approach taken by some lab supervisors, who simply put scan/disinfection tools on one of the lab machines, without making sure 1) The machine is booted from a "clean" operating system 2) The user is aware of how to use the tools properly. With this approach, virus victims would have to go to a special station to be disinfected. Peter Jones MAINT@UQAM (514)-987-3542 "Life's too short to try and fill up every minute of it" :-)