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 AA03521; Tue, 19 Jun 90 07:21:24 -0400 Received: from SEI.CMU.EDU by g.sei.cmu.edu (5.61/2.5) id AA28599; Tue, 19 Jun 90 07:21:21 -0400 Received: from nsfnet-relay.ac.uk by sei.cmu.edu (5.61/2.3) id AA01632; Tue, 19 Jun 90 07:21:16 -0400 Received: from sun.nsfnet-relay.ac.uk by vax.NSFnet-Relay.AC.UK via Janet with NIFTP id aa05233; 19 Jun 90 9:38 BST From: Anthony Appleyard To: DAVIDF@cs.heriot-watt.ac.uk Date: Tue, 19 Jun 90 09:42:24 BST Message-Id: <$TGWFCWKBBCVN at UMPA> Subject: Here is Virus-L vol 0 #0922 Virus-L Digest Thu, 22 Sep 88, Volume 0 : Issue #0922 Today's Topics Viruses and media Time article bashes the media... HDSENTRY.ARC ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Sep 88 00:27:00 EST From: Dimitri Vulis Subject: Viruses and media In one of the first paragraphs, the TIME story describes the user struck by a virus seeking through all 360 concentric circles of data on the disk (very near quotation from memory). Apparently, the writer confused a kilobyte (as in 360K) with a track (as in 96tpi). Also today, NY times ran a story (discussed here previously) about a guy convicted of planting a time bomb, except it called it a virus. This is actually an AP story, so it's mpt surprising: AP style manual has a section called 'computer terms' which defined 'disk operating system' as a collection of disks and disk drives to read them. However, I'd expect that Time magazine would let someone who knows the difference between a track and a Kbyte read the story before printing it. I think it's highly irresponsible on the part of the media to write about things they don't understand and to confuse the public. Explaining the need for security to the users is hard enough without it. Dimitri Vulis, CUNY Math Department P.S. My wife and I wrote a letter to AP about their Style manual listing something like 50 inaccuracies in the computer section, most of them quite funny; I can email a copy to interested parties, although it has little direct bearing on the virus topic. -------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Sep 88 09:21:38 EDT From: Ken van Wyk Subject: Time article bashes the media... The cover story in the September 26, 1988, seems to be pretty interesting reading for the most part. Most of the facts are clearly stated, albeit in flashy jargon. At times, the jargon seems to border on sensationization, in my opinion. They do, however, go on to bash the media for its coverage of viruses by saying, "... On the other is the computer press, a collection of highly competitive weekly tabloids that have seized on the story like pit bulls, covering every outbreak with breathless copy and splashy headlines." I thought this was amusing... Ken Kenneth R. van Wyk Calvin: Here, try this new cereal, User Services Senior Consultant Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs. Lehigh University Computing Center Hobbes: Gack! Ptui! :-( Internet: Calvin: Yeah, they're a bit bland until BITNET: you scoop some sugar on them. -------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Sep 88 23:11:05 CST From: James Ford Subject: HDSENTRY.ARC Hello again. A while (ok, a GREAT while) back I asked if anyone had ever used HDSENTRY.COM. I had been used it once, with some strange effects. >First off, I'm using an IBM PS/2 M30 w/20M h-drive. I backed up my harddisk >and then ran the program. I changed into a subdirectory and did a DEL *.* >on it. The program gave the warning <> DESTRUCTIVE CALL BEING PREVENTED >and didn't allow it. Well, when I did a directory, it showed nothing. BUT, >after doing a warm boot, all files reappeared and ran fine. After posting the above note, I asked if anyone would like to look at the ASM file on it to (maybe) try and correct the above problem. A couple of people answered, but I couldn't locate the file. NOW, I have the file. Anyone interested in doing a little debugging? I would, but I don't know anything about assembly. James -------------------- *** end of Virus-L issue ***