Return-Path: XPUM04@prime-a.central-services.umist.ac.uk Received: from G.SEI.CMU.EDU by ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu (5.61/2.3) id AA25820; Tue, 12 Jun 90 06:34:09 -0400 Received: from SEI.CMU.EDU by g.sei.cmu.edu (5.61/2.5) id AA12929; Tue, 12 Jun 90 06:34:07 -0400 Received: from nsfnet-relay.ac.uk by sei.cmu.edu (5.61/2.3) id AA04128; Tue, 12 Jun 90 06:34:00 -0400 Received: from sun.nsfnet-relay.ac.uk by vax.NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK via Janet with NIFTP id aa09332; 12 Jun 90 11:04 BST From: Anthony Appleyard To: KRVW <@NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK:KRVW@sei.cmu.edu> Date: Tue, 12 Jun 90 11:06:20 BST Message-Id: <$TGVTCZHTCBRG at UMPA> Subject: Virus-L vol 0 issue #0804 Virus-L Digest Thu, 4 Aug 88, Volume 0 : Issue #0804 Today's Topics RE: Campus virus letter Re: Flushot3 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Aug 88 18:18:00 CDT Reply-To: Virus Discussion List Sender: Virus Discussion List From: John Stewart Subject: RE: Campus virus letter To the group: (especially Len Levine) I reviewed your virus letter that you put on the list last Wednesday, and I found it to be very useful. I am in the process of researching, and preparing much the same type of paper for our university. I do have a couple of suggestions that you may find useful, and then again you may not.... I agree with the earlier posting (I forgot who it was), which criticized the grave tone of a good bit of the paper. I don't know about your university, but I don't feel that we are in that deep of a threat of our own students inventing such beastly programs. I say this because I myself am a student, and I know the majority of the Computer Science types on the campus. I simply don't feel that anyone here has that much knowledge and capability. (You must realize that I attend a smaller university than most... we average 13,000 students in the Fall over the past couple of years). What I do fear is the HIGH probability that these students have been in contact with some of the other students at other universities and will, either on accident or on purpose, return with some sort of Virus program in their software. You mentioned in your posting that 'your audience will be faculty and staff who are reasonable, but do not understand computers or computering'. I feel that this is a good estimate of my intentions for my audience. With this in mind I feel that the material needs to be explained a little better. Not even ALL of our Computer Science majors know what a Virus is, I surely don't expect a chemistry professor to deduce my meaning of a VIRUS in the context of the article. With this in mind I have decided to begin my article with a definition or two, positively to include that of a VIRUS. THIS IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP FROM 'THE GROUP'. Below I will _attempt_ to derive some sort of definition, and would greatly appreciate any and all criticism and suggestions! Computer Virus - A program which poisons ones computer software. A program which is usually capable of attaching itself to other programs upon the execution of any number of DOS commands. Usually written with malicious intent, capable of performing any task from displaying a simple message, to destroying hardware AND software. These programs can be made to execute their mailicous acts upon any pre-determined sequence of events, such as a certain keystroke or at a specified date and time. These programs usually are not visible by the simple DOS "DIR" command, making them 'invisible' to the unsuspecting user. ..well? Please, I make no attempt at declaring myself to be a VIRUS expert, or even extensively knowledgeable of them. I merely do the best I can. I would appreciate any hints, revisions, advice, etc. Finally, thank you Len for providing the article to base our defenses upon. +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ % John Stewart Net Address jstewart@sfaustin.BITNET % % Technical/Academic Support Programmer Office (409) 568-1020 % % Stephen F. Austin State University Modem (409) 568-1334 % % Nacogdoches, Tx 75962 (U.S.A.) % +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ -------------------- Date: Thu, 4 Aug 88 17:59:20 PDT Reply-To: Virus Discussion List Sender: Virus Discussion List From: MESSAGE AGENT Subject: Re: Flushot3 Dear Virus Discussion List, This is an automatic reply. Feel free to send additional mail, as only this one notice will be generated. The following is a prerecorded message, sent for Stephen D. Franklin I'm away from e-mail until 11 August. -- sdf -------------------- *** end of Virus-L issue ***