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- | |
- | VIRUS RECOVERY |
- | |
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- | Issue #9: December 17, 1989 |
- | Revision Stage: C |
- | |
- | Written by Eric Newhouse |
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-
- If you run a virus, first try to determine what the virus
- program was and when you ran it.
-
- Viruses are much more dangerous than trojan horses because
- they can install themselves onto any part of your hard disk and
- onto any floppies that have been accessed while the virus was
- active. Therefore, barring a specific antidote program, the only
- sure way to cure an infected computer is to perform a low level
- format of the hard disk.
-
- Someone has probably written an antidote for the virus you've
- caught. Beseech BBS's and User Groups for help. If you are a
- registered user of Virus Scan, McAfee Associates can probably save
- you. If you are sure there is no antidote, then follow these
- steps.
-
- If you can determine that a group of files is definitely
- uninfected, then backup those files before reformatting. This, of
- course, entails some risk. After the format, place UNINFECTED
- system files on the hard disk. This usually means formatting with
- the DOS disks that are included with your system.
-
- After disinfecting your hard disk, you must reformat EVERY
- floppy that entered your computer while the virus was active.
- This is the only sure way to disinfect your system. If you are
- hit by a crude virus, then you may get away without reformatting
- all of your floppies. However, the more sophisticated viruses
- remain on disk even if you erase *.*.
-
- If you have a backup, do not restore it unless you backed up
- before your system became infected.
-
- Viruses are deadly.