Changing File Type for   
          Security

---Intro + Explanation of the Subject---

In the MacOS 'most every software developer uses a unique four letter "signature". The use of these signatures is to allow the OS to differentiate between different applications. With other words, in order for the OS to figure out whether a document is a MS Word or a Claris document, it has to look at its signature! Now this signature is divided into two parts, the "type" and the "creator". The "type" of a file tells the OS if the file is an application, a text file, a document, a movie, a picture, an alias, Saint Marry, or things like that The
"creator" of the file tells the OS which application the file belongs to. With other words, each application has a unique sort of a code, the "creator". And then when the file needs to be opened the OS knows which program it should open it in.

Now as you can imagine, you can have a lot of fun, changing these settings. For example you can make your computer think that something is a PICT file while it is actually an application. And this way, if a nerd comes around and wants to open a file titled "sex" on your computer he'll just be faced with an error dialog box!


---How to do it?---

So how do you change the type and creator of a file?
Simple... Just get your hands on ResEdit (which you should already have!!!!) File Buddy, GetInfo Extreme, Norton Utilities, or a bunch of other software that allows you to edit the file and creator! (trust me it's not hard to find!) To make things simple I'll describe how to use ResEdit ('cause it's the easiest to get a hold of!)

Fire up ResEdit, and once you shot the clown popping out of a Classic, go to the File menu and choose "Get File/Folder Info" the same way as you would when making a file invisible. Now select the file you want to mess around with. And in the dialog box appearing should be a box where you can change the type, and a box where you can change the creator of whatever you selected.

At this point it is of extreme importance to mention the fact that you need to memorize the original type and creator, if you want to convert the file back to normal again! And if you forget, it might take some time 'till you can figure it out again! So use your head and any precautions you want to use!


---Library of Type and Creator Letters---

Anyway, here are some common "type" abbreviations, you can use (Warning the
case 
of the letters are important!):

TYPE                  WHAT IT STANDS FOR

APPL                  Application
WDBN                  Word Document
ttro                  Simple Text read only document
TEXT                  Text Document
zsys                  The System
FNDR                  The Finder
adrp                  Alias 
cdev                  Control Panel
INIT                  Extension


And some famous creators:

CREATOR               WHAT IT STANDS FOR

SIT!                  StuffIt file
SWIN                  Soft Windows file
RSED                  ResEdit file
BOBO                  Claris Works file
Vrks                  Virex file
MACS                  MacOS file
ttxt                  SimpleText file
MSWD                  Microsoft Word file



However sometimes you have to change both the type and the creator, to gain the best effect (xxxx = anything you'd like):

TYPE   CREATOR     DESCRIPTION
zsys   xxxx      Fools the OS intothinking that the file is a 
                 portfolio.If you double click on it, it will 
                 open up as ifit was a folder.

ttro   ttxt      Makes file into a read only simpletext file. 
                 If the original file is not a document it 
                 will open an empty window when double    			
                 clicked.

xxxx   ttxt      When double clicked an error message will 
                 appear saying that document can't be opened

FNDR   MACS      File is used by system error dialog will  	
                 appear when file is opened

APPL   xxxx      When opened an error type -39 will appear. 
                 Works only if original file has no resource 
                 fork
 
PICT   xxxx      Won't be able to access it

cdev   xxxx      Wont let you open it

INIT   xxxx      Thinks file is an extension, and will ask you 
                 to put it into the extensions folder


---Extra Revenge Description---

All right that should be enough for you to get the hang of things. Before I leave you though here's a little thing for how you can annoy the shit out of your sysop, if the machines have Virex installed! You need to have access to the main Virex application, so if it's not use a lame excuse like "Mr. Sysop, I would like to check whether Virex can be thought to read PC viruses". 

So here's what you do:
1. Fire up Virex
2. Under the Virus Info there should be a custom button where you can enter descriptors of own viruses.
3. Give your virus a name
4. For the type enter "FNDR"
5. For the creator enter "ERIK"
6. Save your work and get as far away from the place as possible

What this does is that you create a custom definition of a virus. So every time, Virex scans a disk, the desktop file on the disk, will be regarded as a virus! An easy but annoying way of having revenge!


Well that's it folks!



ProZaq