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========================================================================= || From the files of The Hack Squad: || by Lee Jackson, Co-Moderator, || FidoNet International Echo SHAREWRE The Hack Report || Volume 1, Number 21 for September 1992 || Report Date: September 5, 1992 || ========================================================================= Welcome to the twenty-first issue of The Hack Report. This is a series of reports that aim to help all users of files found on BBSs avoid fraudulent programs, and is presented as a free public service by the FidoNet International Shareware Echo and the author of the report, Lee Jackson (FidoNet 1:382/95). This issue introduces a few minor formatting changes to The Hack Report, notably in the introduction section. The information on how to contact The Hack Squad and The HackWatchers has been moved to a separate message and a separate file for the archive. Of course, there are new reports to share this month as well, so thanks to everyone who has helped put this report together, and to those that have sent in comments and suggestions. NOTE TO SYSOPS: The Hack Report may be freely posted as a bulletin on your BBS, subject to these conditions: 1) the latest version is used, 2) it is posted in its entirety, and 3) it is not altered in any way. NOTE TO OTHER READERS: The Hack Report (file version) may be freely uploaded to any BBS, subject to the above conditions, and only if you do not change the filename. You may convert the archive type as you wish, but please leave the filename in its original HACK????.* format. The Hack Report may also be cross-posted in other networks (with the permission of the other network) as long as it meets the above conditions and you give appropriate credit to the FidoNet International Shareware Echo (and the author <g>). The idea is to make this information available freely. However, please don't cut out the disclaimers and other information if you use it, or confuse the issue by spreading the file under different names. Thanks! DISCLAIMER: The listings of Official Versions are not a guarantee of the files' safety or fitness for use. Someone out there might just be sick-minded enough to upload a Trojan with an "official" file name, so >scan everything you download<!!! The author of this report will not be responsible for any damage to any system caused by the programs listed as Official Versions, or by anything using the name of an Official Version. ************************************************************************ Hacked Programs Here are the latest versions of some programs known to have hacked copies floating around. Archive names are listed when known, along with the person who reported the fraud (thanks from us all!). Program Hack(s) Latest Official Version ------- ------- ----------------------- Aliens Ate !ALIENS K6DEMO My Babysitter Reported by: Christopher Baker (1:374/14) ARJ Archiver ARJ250 ARJ230 Reported by: Tommy Vielkanowitz (also ARJ239A, a beta test) (1:151/2305) AutoMenu AUTO48 AUTO47 Reported by: Tony Blair (WildNet) via Ken Whiton (1:132/152) Verified by Marshall Magee, Magee Enterprises, Inc. CatDisk CDISK510 CDISK631 CDISK530 CDISK661 Reported by: Jeff Kaplow (1:120/234) CompuShow CSHOW801 CSHW846A CSHOW831 CSHOW851 Reported by: Paul Brazil CSHOW91 Reported by: Harold Stein (Wildnet) (Note: Any version ending with a B, such as CSHW841B, is _not_ a shareware version. This is the enhanced version received with the user's registration and is not to be distributed. Consider all B archives to be pirated copies.) HS/Link HSLK113 HSLK112 Reported by: Samuel H. Smith, Author Las Vegas EGA Casino (unknown) Reported by the author, Diana Gruber, in the ILink net, relayed by Richard Steiner (1:282/85) (Note: a version of this program sold through Gemini shareware outlets with the title screen "Special GEMINI game disk" and a version calling itself the "Ledyard$ EGA Casino" have been distributed. No archive names have been supplied yet.) LHA Archiver LHA214 LHA213 Reported by: Patrick Lee (RIME address RUNNINGB) LHA300 Reported by: Mark Church (1:260/284) List LIST8 LIST76B LIST18 Reported by: The Hack Squad (from the Buerg BBS) Math Master MATHMSTR M-MST301 Reported by: James Frazee (1:343/158) PKZip PKZIP120 PKZIP110 PKZIP20B PKZIP_V2.EXE Reported by: Mike Burger (WildNet) via Ken Whiton (1:132/152) Reported by: Fred Towner (1:134/73) PKZ201.ARJ Reported by: Frank Pizer (5:71/0) PKZ201.ZIP PKZ201.EXE Reported by: Jim Westbrook (1:382/29) PKX201.EXE Reported by: Bill Logan (1:300/22) PKZ210F.EXE Reported by: Bert Bredewoud (2:281/703) PKZIPV2 (Claims to be v2.2 of PKZip - reported via PKWare Tech Support) PKUNZIP.COM Reported by: Harold Stein, via Ken Whiton PKZIP203.EXE Reported by: Mark Clark (2:440/107) QEdit Advanced XEDIT QEDIT215 Reported by: Sammy Mitchell, Author (thanks to Rand Nowell and Joe Morlan for relaying the report) QEDIT500 Reported by: Onno Tesink (ILink, via Richard Steiner, 1:282/85) Qmodem QM451 QM452TD Reported by: Bill Lambdin, via Arthur Shipkowski (1:260/213.2) Shez SHEZ72A SHEZ80 SHEZ73 Reported By: Bill Lambdin (1:343/45) Telegard TG29EALP Telegard 2.7 Reported by: Karen Maynor (1:3640/5) (Found on the NightOwl CD-ROM disc version 5.0) JIGSAWV2 Reported by: Tommy Smith, via Mark Evans (formerly 1:382/87) Telix Telix v3.20 Telix v3.15 Telix v3.25 Reported by: Brian C. Blad (1:114/107) Peter Kirn (WildNet, via Ken Whiton) Telix v4.00 Telix v4.15 Reported by: Barry Bryan (1:370/70) Telix v4.25 Reported by: Daniel Zuck (2:247/30, via Chris Lueders (2:241/5306.1) MegaTelix Verified by Jeff Woods, Exis, Inc., in the TELIX echo, who also states that there will be _no_ release titled Telix 4.0. He states the next release of Telix will be under a completely new name, which has not been decided upon yet. Any version with a number higher than 3.15 can be considered a confirmed hack, unless reported here otherwise. Telix Pro Reported by: Jason Engebretson (address unknown), in the FidoNet TELIX echo TheDraw TDRAW430 TDRAW451 TDRAW500 Reported by: Ian Davis, Author TDRAW550 Reported by: Steve Klemetti (1:228/19) TDRAW600 Reported by: Hawley Warren (1:120/297) THEDR60 Reported by: Larry Owens (PDREVIEW echo, 1:280/17) TDRAW800 Reported by: James Carswell (1:153/775) Turbo Antivirus Version 9.00b Version 8.10 Version 9.01a (Archive names unknown) Reported by: Thomas Ruess (2:246/24) ViruScan SCAN92 SCAN95B Reported by: Don Dunlop (1:153/715) X00 Fossil X00V130 X00V124 X00V130J (also official is X00V149A, a beta test of an OS/2 ver.) *** More Hacks Bill Lambdin (1:343/45), host of the Intelec Virus Info conference, sent a list of versions of McAfee's ViruScan (better known as just SCAN) that have been hacked. Here are the version numbers he sent: SCAN74 SCAN81 SCAN88 SCAN78 SCAN83 SCAN92 SCAN79 SCAN87 SCAN96 More information on ViruScan can be found in The Trojan Wars section. HackWatcher Bill Dennison saw a copy of the PKZ201.EXE file mentioned above, but with a twist: when he used the file view feature of the BBS he saw it on, he saw that the file was not a PKZip SFX (self-extracting) file, but was an LHA SFX (using -lh5- compression). This, folks, is a bit of a giveaway. PKWare isn't likely to use any archiver other than ZIP to distribute their next release. Chris Lueders (2:241/5306.1) reports that a file calling itself VPIC50DT is a hack of version 4.5 of the VPic graphics file viewer. Specifically, the 5.0dt file ("dt" indicates a German language edition, per Chris) is a hack of the English version 4.5. At the time of the report, version 4.9 was the latest official release, but now a legitimate version 5.0 is out. Be careful, then: if your copy of VPIC50 starts up in German, delete it. Zone 2 (especially UK) users might want to watch out for a disk being distributed by Personal Computer World magazine. Shakib Otaqui (2: 440/74) reports that all of the files on the August issue's "free" cover disk are zipped using the PKZip 1.93 alpha test release, and that the version of PKZip distributed with the disk is the hacked version 2.01. The PKZip 2.01 file is 19793 bytes, dated March 15, 1992, and is PKLited with the extra compression (non-expandable) option. Shakib tested the file and confirmed that it is a simple hack with no viral or Trojan code. Finally, here's one I'm not sure how to handle: It's a hack, but it appears to be a hack of a commercial program. HackWatcher Frank Pizer has found a hack of a program called BitFax. The hack, calling itself ZIPFAX.ZIP (at 146320 bytes), has been altered so that all occurrences of the word Bit with the word Zip. The archive contains configuration files with the words "Technopoint - Avi Miller" in them. Thanks to Frank for the report from Zone 5: let's hope the rest of us can keep it from spreading beyond there. ========================================================================= Hoax Alert: Finally, the news we've all been waiting for: Bill Logan's test results on Xtratank. If you recall, Mr. Logan, an agent of McAfee Associates, agreed to test out this file to see once and for all if it really works, or if it is a hoax. Bill tested the program on two IBM compatible computers and one AT&T XT clone. The PC Clones were 286s, one with a 40meg IDE hard drive, the other with a 40meg MFM hard drive. The AT&T had a 10meg hard drive. To weed out possible clashes with DOS versions, the test was repeated on each computer using 4 different DOS flavors: MS-DOS 3.30, IBM DOS 3.30, MS-DOS 4.01, and MS-DOS 5.0. The hard drives were formatted and Xtratank was installed on each. The PC Clones now reported that their drive capacity was now doubled. The AT&T XT did not, since it was not a true IBM compatible. Bill then attempted to copy 80 megabytes of raw, non-compressed files from floppy disks onto the hard drives. All of the hard drives ran out of disk space after only 40 megs of files had been copied. The testing did not reveal any viral or Trojan code. To quote Bill, "It is our opinion that this program is simply nothing but a hoax." (However, see the ???Questionable Files??? section for more on this.) In addition to Bill's testing, Gary Weinfurther (1:120/301) sent a summary of his disassembly of the programs in the archive. He found that the XTRATANK.EXE and the XTRATANK.COM files contained the exact same code, with one padded with "garbage" that made it look larger. The code is designed to intercept the DOS 21h interrupt, function 36h, which is for determining free space on a drive. Xtratank then doubles the result. None of the warning messages in the docs are present in the files, and no check is performed to see if it could be correctly installed. Gary says that since it is a simple interrupt-intercept TSR, "it can be successfully installed every time." He suggests (humorously) that installing it twice would theoretically result in a report that your hard drive space had quadrupled. This should settle the debate once and for all - XTRATANK IS A HOAX AND DOES NOT ACTUALLY WORK. All of Bill's and Gary's results completely verify the Fitzgerald Test results, so if you _still_ don't believe it, run the test for yourself. *** The Fitzgerald Test Here is the now-famous Fitzgerald Test, devised by Tim Fitzgerald of 1:3800/18.0 and validated by Bill Logan's test results. Try this if you think you have managed to get XTRATANK to work on your system. Follow these simple steps: 1. Run CHKDSK and write down the free space it reports as free. 2. Do a DIR command and write down what XTRATANK reports. 3. Copy any text file to a new text file. 4. Repeat steps 1 and 2, and compare. You will see that XTRATANK reports that twice as much disk space is taken up by the new text file. Scott Raymond (1:278/624), who runs an Alpha Test site for the Telegard BBS package, reports a hoax version of Telegard called TG27E. It claims to be an upgrade of Telegard 2.7, but Scott says, "it is nothing more than Telegard 2.7 Standard." The archive contains four LHA SFX files that are meant to be extracted over an existing Telegard installation. In short, it completely overwrites your current setup with a different one. Scott says the main TELEGARD.EXE file is exactly the same as the official release - no evidence of hacking was found. According to Scott, true upgrades to Telegard will "NEVER destroy an existing configuration and replace it with a different one - especially one with a horrendous color combination that looks like a bad acid trip." Other previously reported hoaxes: Filename Claimed use/Actual activity/Reporter(s) ------------ --------------------------------------------------------- 2496 This, and all files that claim to run a 2400 bps modem at 9600 or 14400 bps, are hoaxes. If you follow their instructions, you will have a 0 bps modem. Reported by several people. AMIGA Claims to allow IBM/Clones to read Amiga Workbench Disks: displays a picture of an Amiga Workbench disk on your screen, then spins your A: drive and locks your system. From Suriya Matsuda, Jacob Kanafoski (1:3613/4), Derek Vanmunster (1:229/418), and Jeff Hancock (1:3600/7). BIMOD126 Claims to be version 1.26 of BiModem - actually v1.24 renamed and re-archived. HIMEM500 Looks like v5.00 of the HIMEM.SYS driver from MS-DOS and Windows, but is actually v3.07 with the numbers changed. Pirated as well (HIMEM.SYS is not shareware). From Joe Morlan (1:125/28) and Mike Bray (RIME address COFFEE). MAXRES Claims to "check your graphics interface and show you resolutions of your interface card." Elaborate hoax that lists the author as Samuel H. Smith (of HS/Link fame). Mr. Smith has confirmed that he did not write this program. Possible Trojan, but no Trojan activity has been reported. SPEEDUP Claims to increase system clock speed - instead doubles the length of each second and resets the system clock to use 30 of the new seconds each minute. From Kim Miller (1:103/700). WOLFXXX Claims to patch your copy of Wolfenstein-3D to version 1.3. No such version exists. Also has a fake address that you are asked to send money to. From Jay Wilbur of Id Software (1:124/6300). ========================================================================= The Trojan Wars This past month was not a good month by any stretch of the imagination. More Trojans came out than we've ever seen before here at Hack Central Station. I strongly recommend that you take time and read this section very carefully this month - the hard drive you save may be your own. HackWatcher Richard Steiner forwarded a message from Eric Hamel (RIME address SOFTC, Shareware Conference) about the file MSTLST10. A user of a board local to Eric found the file, described as "like Sidekick, only better," and downloaded it. An INSTALL.BAT file in the archive had references to copying the command interpreter. Eric ran the install program, and wound up with an overwritten command interpreter - the file MASTLAST.COM had been copied to his root directory and had been renamed to the same name as what was pointed to in his COMSPEC setting. Another forwarding from Richard involves a report from Steve Bogacz of the Rice Lake PCUG (via George Goza, ILink (Channel 1 BBS)). Steve found a file called FLIP-IT that contains a variant of the Wisconsin virus. No file description was given. Here comes the sermon again - SCAN EVERYTHING YOU DOWNLOAD. Before you run it, preferably. Malte Eppert (2:240/500.6) forwarded a message into the FidoNet DIRTY_DOZEN echo from Dick Hazeleger about EARLYWA, an "AV warning program." He ran the main program, DAILY.COM, after scanning it with McAfee's SCAN95 and getting a clean result. The program crashed when it tried to invoke the DOS DEBUG program, which Dick doesn't have on his system. After this, he checked the file using Fridrik Skulasson's F-Prot virus scanner in "Heuristic" mode, and received the message, "...the first 71 bytes of this program contain a primitive virus." Malte goes on to say that "the program was 'spread' by Romulus Software Crete (Greece)." Matthew Peddelsden (2:440/302) has received a report of a virus in a copy of the GSZ ZModem protocol driver archive by Chuck Forsberg. He says that "running any file in the archive will infect the file COMMAND.COM, and subsequent program (sic) that is run is infected so that it is corrupted and when run simply displays rubbish on the screen and beeps madly out of the speaker." Matthew received an archive listing from the person whose system was infected by this. Here's the info: Length Method Size Ratio Date Time CRC-32 Attr Name ------ ------ ----- ----- ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- 76 Shrunk 72 6% 13-12-91 13:32 0a33cf32 --w DS.BAT 340 Implode 287 16% 13-12-91 13:35 631a91b6 --w FIX.BAT 110 Shrunk 98 11% 13-12-91 13:27 6836df0d --w RZ.BAT 36 Shrunk 31 14% 13-12-91 13:22 d8d5d2f9 --w SZ.BAT 151 Shrunk 140 8% 13-12-91 13:27 b5400e97 --w ZDOWN.BAT 123 Shrunk 115 7% 13-12-91 13:27 5cffa510 --w ZMODEMAD.BAT 116 Shrunk 106 9% 13-12-91 13:28 c38f9bfe --w ZMODEMD.BAT 134 Shrunk 123 9% 13-12-91 13:28 89aeacd7 --w ZMODEMDR.BAT 140 Shrunk 123 13% 13-12-91 13:28 eeba3b6f --w ZMODEMU.BAT 59 Stored 59 0% 13-12-91 13:28 3eedc27b --w ZUP.BAT 898 Implode 683 24% 24-11-90 04:20 07d84f0d --w DSZ.10 71424 Implode 42742 41% 27-04-92 15:00 ccda0966 --w GSZ.EXE 33936 Implode 21315 38% 26-04-92 08:44 cd04b5ea --w GCOLORS.EXE 130736 Implode 45830 65% 27-04-92 15:38 ead89b23 --w GSZ.DOC 3067 Implode 1230 60% 27-04-92 15:03 da90ea8b --w MAILER ------ ------ --- ------- 241346 112954 54% 15 His source says the virus is in both GSZ.EXE and GCOLORS.EXE. McAfee's SCAN95B doesn't detect it, but they have been informed. The virus contains the string, "APACHE WARRIER," along with a few others. It seems very unlikely that this infected copy originated from the author: it is almost certainly a situation where someone else down the line unpacked the archive, infected the files, re-archived them, and uploaded the bad archive to a BBS. If you have _any_ qualms about the copy of GSZ that you find, you can always go to the source and download a copy from Chuck Forsberg's BBS. Scott Scoville (1:282/3006) reports DOS501, described as a beta version of MS-DOS with some new features for Windows 3.1. A friend of Scott's loaded the file on a spare computer and found that it contains a variant of the DISKILLER virus. Cal Gardner previously reported a file called 800II224, claiming to be version 2.24 of the 800 II disk formatting program. He did some testing, disabling his hard drive from the CMOS and booting from a floppy. When he ran the program, it deleted all files on both drive A and drive B. His information is that the latest version is v1.80. The author, Alberto Pasquale, is in Italy according to Isaac Salpeter (1:3612/210), so he is a bit difficult for me to contact. However, the behavior of the file Cal found leads me to believe he has located a Trojan copy. John Wagner (1:209/760), the author of IMPROCES, reports that his program has been the victim of a Trojan version. The Trojan is in a file called IMPROC50.*, which is actually v3.1 of IMPROCES that has been "infected with about 10 viruses" according to a report received by John. John also reports that his source said the file "waxed" a hard drive when it was run. For the record, the latest version of IMPROCES is 4.0, so avoid any higher numbers. Bryan Nylin (1:343/116) reports a Trojan version of SCAN95 that has the SCAN.EXE file in the archive replaced with a SCAN.COM file. Bryan says this wipes out your boot sector and media descriptor byte, then overwrites the FAT and data areas with a continuous stream of the string "NOT!NOT!NOT!NOT!NOT!NOT!" (and so on). Sounds like this was written by a bored programmer who watched Wayne's World once too often. Note that this seems to be an isolated sighting: McAfee did in fact release a valid SCAN95. They also released v94b, a beta test, but skipped over that version number due to a report of a Trojan version found in Mexico. The latest official version is SCAN95B. Bill Lambdin (1:343/35) forwards a message from Phil Helms of the CircuitNET Virus Conference. The file in question, ATTRUE.*, is listed as "a DOS utility to change file attributes." Instead, one of the internal files (README.COM) deletes all .EXE and .COM files in your DOS directory and tries to do the same to your .SYS and .BAT files in your root directory. Phil says it looks like another compiled .BAT file. Please note that Phil did _not_ run the actual program file in the archive (i.e., ATTR.COM). This program may be legitimate, and simply was archived along with a Trojan README.COM file. The safest way to avoid a problem like this is to look inside any README.COM file with a file viewer (such as PC Tools VIEW or Buerg's LIST) before you run it. Most of these will have readable text strings that look like documentation inside them. If yours doesn't, be careful with it. Enoch Ceshkovsky (RIME Shareware Conference, address NSTTZ) found a file called ENVIRED.* that claims to be a DOS Environment Editor. However, the copy that Enoch found was infected with a strain of the Family virus. I'm not sure if the file is a legitimate program, since I'm not familiar with it. Either way, this is a single sighting: the virus in it can be detected by SCAN v93 or higher. Michael Mac Nessa (1:2250/2) reported in the AMIGA_PDREVIEW echo on an attack by a file called DW171.LHA. This was described as "the best directory utility" ever seen by the uploader. The file claims to be a program called DirWork, version 1.71. The program checked clean for viruses, so Michael ran it and got a grey screen and nothing else. After 30 seconds of this, he rebooted. On bootup, his dh0: drive started to access rapidly, and he was then asked by his system for dh1:, a drive he didn't even have. Fortunately, his boot drive setup uses a different setup (not booting from dh0), so his boot drive survived the attack. However, his File: hard drive was wiped out. I apologize if I have massacred Amiga terminology, so please correct me via NetMail if I'm wrong on any of the drive names. For the record, however, this Trojan has been verified by the author of DirWork, Chris Hames (via Robert Poole, 1:142/886). The latest version is 1.62. Michael Nelson (1:125/20) received a file called FAST!.*, an apparent pirate of the commercial disk cache program FAST!. However, upon further inspection, this really looks like a Trojan. The archive contains the following files: NAME SIZE DATE TIME ------------------------------------ README ANS 320 01/01/80 02:25 INSTALL COM 1459 03/26/92 19:08 FAST DAT 20927 03/26/92 19:14 FAST TXT 588 03/26/92 19:00 The text file says the installation is slow, since it has to check every program on your hard drive. A look inside the .COM file reveals the line "REN fast.dat fast.com c: /q /u". The FAST.DAT file contains lines that lead one to believe that this is an MS-DOS FORMAT.COM file, with added commands that will try and format all of your drives. Both the INSTALL.COM and the FAST.DAT file have gone through a batch file compiler somehow, with the INSTALL.COM having a registration notice for the batch file compiler. Although Michael didn't run the program (smart move), he does suspect a serious Trojan here. So do I. Harold Stein (CompuServe address 72377,3075) forwards a report from a SysOp in his area, Danny Swerdloff, about a file called JOKE.*. The file is described variously as either "the best fake FBI database joke available," or "a very believeable hard disk crash simulator." The archive contains only two files: JOKE.BAT and JOKE.DOC. The doc file reassures the user that the batch file is completely harmless. However, the batch file contains the following lines: c: cd\dos del keyboard.sys format C: This is a rather amateurish Trojan, and can be easily thwarted by giving your hard drive a volume label. However, a better precaution is to examine any strange batch file you are given before you run it, since virus scanners do not look into batch files. That way, if you see the word FORMAT in one, you can delete it before it hits. An update on #1BLAST, reported in the last full issue of The Hack Report. Rick Rosinski (1:239/1004) reports in the PDREVIEW echo that the SysOp who was hit by it (Pete Kehrer) experienced some rather bad results from it. In short, it overwrites your COMMAND.COM file and replaces it with the characters "///", and writes similar garbage over your config.sys and autoexec.bat files. It also creates several other files, all ASCII, with characters like "////asdfasdf" in them. (In case you're wondering, look at the four keys on the left side of the home row of your keyboard - the letters are "asdf" on a standard Qwerty keyboard.) This file at first looks like a real Apogee game - it even has Apogee's catalogue in it. It is easy to repair the damage, but it's a shame that someone would want to do this to another person's system. Bill Lambdin (1:343/45) forwards a message from Reidar Lilleboth (ILink OS/2 Conference) about TEDP090.ZOO. This appears to be an isolated incident of a copy of the file being infected with the Maltese Amoeba virus. TEDP090 is a small OS/2 text editor. If you see this file, please scan it before running to make sure you have a clean copy. HackWatcher Mikael Winterkvist (2:205/422) found a file named BREV.*, described as "SysOps Sex Habits." However, this is a "device bomb," which contains the names of DOS devices in the archive. Similar to a file reported in the full report, this is aimed at your CLOCK$ device. When unarchived, the CLOCK$ is opened, and about 50K worth of the letter A are written to your system clock. Irritating, and to be avoided. Paul Drapeau (1:322/594) reported in the FidoNet VIRUS_INFO echo a new virus called Power Pump. Normally, viruses by themselves are not reported in The Hack Report/Update, but this is an unusual situation. According to Paul's research, all droppers of this virus have a file in their archives called POWER.EXE, with instructions to the user not to run this file. He does not understand the connection, but the virus will not run without the POWER.EXE file. A few specifics on Power Pump: it doesn't actually attach its code to files, but uses the "corresponding file" technique. It looks for .EXE extension files, then creates a file with the same root name but with a .COM extension. Since DOS executes .COM files before .EXE files, the viral file (1199 bytes long) is run first, where it executes the viral code and passes execution on to the corresponding .EXE file. The virus also looks for empty directories: if it finds one, it creates a hidden file called COM (with no file extension) that contains the viral code. To date, Paul says the virus has been found in two archives (one of SCAN89.ZIP and one of VSUMX204.ZIP). These may have been localized occurrences, but be on the lookout for any file with a POWER.EXE file in the archive. Dan Christman (1:520/519) reported that there is a version of TheDraw that contains "several viruses." He says to watch for a file within the archive called THEDRAW.PCK. This file is only created after the program is initially executed and is not part of the official archive. Dan gave no filename for this dropper, but be on the lookout for any archive that already has a THEDRAW.PCK file in it. Just for the record (once again), the latest official release of TheDraw is v4.51. Please be aware that the PKZip v2.0B hack reported in the hack section of this report could be a Trojan. According to the report filed in the VIRUS_INFO echo by Fred Towner, the archive (an ARJ archive, no less(!)) had these files in it: PKZIP20B.EXE UNKNOWN.NFO MUSTREAD.COM (archived with PKLITE) WATCHME!.EXE (archived with PKLITE) Fred was wise enough not to try and run any of these programs, so Trojan activity has not been confirmed. Other previously reported Trojans/Droppers: Filename Claimed use/Actual activity/Reporter(s) ------------ -------------------------------------------------------- 240TOMNP Small file that trashes disks (no elaboration on symptoms). From Eric Pullen (USTGNET). ARJ240 Supposed "latest version" of the popular Archiver by Robert Jung (ARJ). This is a dropper of the FISH virus, reportedly with a "secure envelope." Latest official version of ARJ is 2.30, with an official wide beta release under filename ARJ239A. Reported by Hazel Clarke (1:134/68) via Ken Miller (1:134/111). BACKFIND Activity unknown, but has many obscene text strings in the executable that seem to indicate that it will trash your hard drive. From Dan Stark (1:247/101). BILLNTED No claim reported - begins its "bogus journey" with the message "Decompressing database, please wait......", then prints more messages and formats the first 50 tracks of your hard drive. From David Elkins (2:254/78). COMPILER Claimed freeware version of Stacker - phone numbers in the text files are fake (one is a phone sex number). Erases your COMMAND.COM file. From several reporters. CSHOW900 Fake version of the CompuShow .GIF viewer - the .EXE file in the archive tries to truncate your COMMAND.COM file. From Tim Spofford (1:105/99). CUBULOUS No claim reported for this file - apparently contains a dropper of the REX virus (detected by SCAN v91 and higher). Reported by Bill Arlofski in the CNET Spitfire Support Conference, forward by several through Mark Wurlitzer (1:294/9). CVIR Advertised as a virus scanner - executable has the strings, "/Checking drive for VIRII/TROJANs. Please wait.EHAHA God your a ****ing moron. YOU HAVE BEEN HIT BY A TROJAN! HAHA". (String edited for family viewing.) From Dan Stark (1:247/101). EPW27 Purported new version of EPW, a file that protects executables with an encrypted password. Instead, this Trojan contains droppers of the ITTI-A, ITTI-B, and Rock Steady viruses. Latest official version is v1.2. From Patrick Pfadenhauer (via Mark Evans, formerly 1:382/87). FONTS Advertised as additional fonts for TheDraw - the FONTS.COM file in the archive is a compiled batch file that changes to your C: drive root directory and deletes all files within the root. A legitimate FONTS archive exists as well. From Glen Appleton (1:260/371) via Arthur Shipkowski (1:260/213.2). FREEHST ANSI bomb - remaps your keyboard, making some keys invoke the FORMAT command. Described as how to get a free HST modem (steal one, it advises). Avoid by using an ANSI driver that disables keyboard remapping. From Tom Ward, SysOp of the BCS TI99 BBS (617-331-4181), via Herb Oxley (1:101/435). GREYSCAL Claims to be a monitor adjustment utility - actually a dropper - infects files on your hard drive with the FISH virus through the README.EXE file in the archive. Not detectable by any scanner. From Bill Logan (1:300/22). MOBYZ Does "a number on your hard drive" - no further details given, but apparently confirmed by McAfee. From Michael Masters, SysOp of the Conceptual CAD Design BBS (Tempe, AZ) via Mark Evans (formerly 1:382/87). MONOP3-0 Supposed to be Monopoly for Windows. Contains FORMAT.COM from DOS 4.01 and STACKEY v2.1 (renamed as MONOP1.COM and MONOPOLY.COM and invoked by a batch file called README!!.BAT). Will try and format your hard drive - a volume label on your HD will thwart this one. From Derek Vanmunster (1:229/418). NPV2 The "Non-Programmer's Virus" - a claimed aid to testing anti-viral programs. Contains an infected copy of Vern Buerg's LIST.COM. From Michael Kerr (1:309/7). Obnoxious "Tetris" clones for the Macintosh - actually droppers Tetris of the MBDFA virus. Via Paul Ferguson (1:109/229) Tetriscycle in the VIRUS_INFO echo. Ten Tile Puzzle OCEAN.ZIP From the BBS description: "Wonderful Game, Reward for PLANTS.ZIP the person who conquers it 1 time, Good luck, how does RAINBOW.ZIP 30,000 bucks sound to you if you break the pattern, try this game, it is wonderful, waht a challenge, bet you can't break the pattern. $50, 000 if you do it twice." Actually a compiled batch file that tries to erase all files on your C: drive. From Richard Dale (1:280/333). PSI3.ARJ Passing itself as the LHA Archiver, version 3.00. It destroys your partition table, boot sector, and parts of FAT 1 and FAT 2. From Nemrod Kedem (2:403/138). QUICKEYS Claims to increase keyboard speed - turns out to be the actual executable file of the BURGER virus. The virus file is called QUICKEYS.COM and is 542 bytes long. This is not to be confused with the PC Magazine Utility of the same name. Reported by Jay Siegel (1:153/151). RAMBO Contains files with the names of DOS devices that are affected when the archive is viewed or unpacked. Reported by Michael Toth (1:115/439.7). SCAN87 Suspected of Trojan activity, but not confirmed. The SCAN88 latest official release is SCAN95B. Reported by SCAN94 several. SCAN96 SHIELD20 Claims to protect you from Trojans, but are possible SHIELD21 Trojans themselves. From Jim Lambert (CircuitNet) via HackWatcher Ken Whiton and via Michael Toth (1:115/439.7). TG27FAST Trojan "speed-up" for Telegard 2.7 - damages disks to the extent that they require reformatting. From Eric Pullen (USTGNET) via Robert Hinshaw (1:291/16) and Eric Kimminau (1:120/335). TGSEC16 Trojan version of Telegard Security Package - both executables in the archive will infect your system with the Dark Avenger virus, and the text files show you how to ease access to your system by hackers instead of prevent access. By Scott Raymond, author of the real package (latest official version is TGSEC17.*). TIME Several files reported under this name - one dropper, one Trojan. Be wary of any file with this name. TMFIX Claims to fix a problem with the dialing directory used by the communication program Telemate. Formats your hard drive (or at least part of it) instead. Reported by Brian Hess (WildNet), via HackWatcher Ken Whiton. VGA835 Claimed VGA game - wipes out your hard drive. From Gary Meade, SysOp of the Tiger Run BBS in Sioux Falls, SD, via HackWatcher Ken Whiton. VIRTUAL Supposed to be a virtual reality game. One file in the archive has the string, "This bombing was compliments of A.C.K. and its affiliates." Trashes hard drives. From Dan Stark (1:247/101). VPIC47 One circulating version of this seems to contain the Dark Avenger virus, "split" so that no scanner can pick it up. Get the latest version of VPic, VPIC50, to avoid this. From Tim Tim Sawchuck and Jeff Simmons in the WildNet VIRUSES_MN conference. WHALE Not a VGA graphic of a whale as described, but the actual WHALE virus. From Dan Stark (1:247/101). WLFCHEAT Claims to be a "cheat" file for the Apogee/Id game Wolfenstein-3D. Actually wipes out your hard drive's boot sector and trashes the File Allocation Tables. Not to be confused with WLF1CHT, a legitimate "cheat" file written by Michael P. Hoffman. Reported by R. Wallace Hale, SysOp of the Driftnet BBS (PC Virus Research Foundation), via Clayton Manson (1:3612/140). ZAPPER15 PSI3, mentioned above, recommends an "antivirus" program called ZAPPER15.* to remove a virus called "PSQR". ZAPPER15 is another Trojan which overwrites your hard disk's boot sector with random garbage data from memory. It contains no viral code. Also from Nemrod Kedem (2:403/138) ========================================================================= Pirated Commercial Software Program Archive Name(s) Reported By ------- --------------- ----------- 4X4 off-road racing 4X4 Jon Jasiunas (WildNet, via (Epyx) HackWatcher Ken Whiton) Above Disk v3.00A EXP-MEM Dale Woloshin (1:163/211.3) and Wolfgang Fritz Alf and the Alley Cats ALF Bill Dennison (1:273/216) Amiga ARexx Manual AREXXMAN HTom Trites (1:282/62), (Verified by William Hawes, author) via Derek Oldfather Backgammon Royale BGROYALE Shakib Otaqui (2:440/74) BGROYDOX Bargames BARGAMES Scott Lewis (1:107/607) (game from Accolade) Battle Chess BCHESS Bill Roark (RIME, via HackWatcher Richard Steiner) Battle Chess for BCWIN1 Harold Stein Windows BCWIN2 (CompuServe) BeetleJuice (game) BJUICE Alan Hess (1:261/1000) BJ Bill Blakely (RIME Shareware echo) BTLJWC the Hack Squad (1:382/95) BitFax 1.22B Unknown Antonio Rezende (RIME) Blockout BLOCKOUT Bill Lambdin (1:343/45) (California Dreams) Commander Keen #2KEEN Steve Hodsdon (1:132/199) (parts 2 and 3) #3KEEN Harold Stein (via Ken Whiton, 1:132/152) (part 5) #5KEEN John Van Eekelen (2:500/228) Crystal Caves pt. 2 CRYSTL-2 John Van Eekelen (Apogee) Desert Storm (Windows) DSTORM Bill Roark (RIME, via HackWatcher Richard Steiner) DiskDupe Professional DDPRO339 John Van Eekelen Disk Manager 5.0 DM50 Philip Perlman (1:278/709) Double Disk DDISK214 Ronald McGill (1:167/149) DoubleDos v5.5 DDOS55 Ove Lorentzon (2:203/403.6) Duke Nukem parts 2 & 3 DUKEZIP2.EXE Steve Hodsdon (1:132/199), #2DUKE Craig Demarsh (1:260/213), DUKEZIP3.EXE and Hal Thompson (1:353/220) DUKETRIL Harold Stein (WildNet) (also under various other names - only the first game in the trilogy is shareware: #2 & #3 are for registered users only and are pirated.) Dune (game) DUNEFLT1 Michael Toth (1:115/439.7) DUNEFLT2 DUNEFLT3 Eagle's Nest (game) EAGLE Mike Headley (1:362/112) Frank R Pizer (5:71/0) EMM386 EMM386 Jeff Hancock (1:3600/7) George Staikos via Mark Evans (1:382/87) EMM441 John Van Eekelen Fastback Plus v2.0 FBPL200 Bogie Bugsalewicz (1:115/738) Flashlink MNP Emulator FLASHLNK Several Gauntlet (game) GAUNTLET Cimarron Mittlesteadt (via Ken Whiton, WildNet) GIFLite v1.40 GIFLT14R Stephen Kawamoto (Registered Version) (1:153/7004) GSZ GSZ0410 Arthur Taber (1:125/28) (via Stuart Kremsky) GSZ1214R Harold Stein, NOTE: GSZ is a shareware program, via Ken Whiton (1:132/152) but these particular archives were the registered versions. Harmony (game) EMOTION John Van Eekelen HIMEM.SYS (from HIMEM307 John Van Eekelen Microsoft) IronMan off-road racing IRONMAN Jon Jasiunas (WildNet, via HackWatcher Ken Whiton) Jill of the Jungle JILL2 Harold Stein (CompuServe) (non-shareware files) $JILL2 HackWatcher Bert Bredewoud $JILL3 KDREAMS KDREAMS John Van Eekelen (2:500/228) (game from Softdisk) LotusWorks v1.0 LWORKS Brian Luker (1:167/149) Mac-in-Dos CLINK Arthur Taber (1:125/28) (not the SEALink protocol) MAC-DOS Ron Bass (1:128/13.3) Leslie Meehan, original reporter (unknown) MACON-5 Kimberly Avery (1:324/278) Microsoft Mouse Driver MOUSE810 Bat Lang (1:382/91) Monopoly MONINC Chris Nelson (by Virgin Games) MS-DOS 6.0 Beta DOS6BETA Chris Astorquiza (1:250/316) MTE MNP Emulator 4800BAUD George Staikos,Trenton,ON, via Mark Evans (1:382/87) MNPEMUL Larry Dinkoff (1:115/622) MTE215 Bat Lang (1:382/91) MTE210E MTE210F MTE210G MX5 Wolfgang Fritz Verified by Steve Lieberman of MagicSoft, Inc. MX6 MTEZ (MagicSoft) MTZ115B1 Kim Miller (1:103/700) Nederlandse Spoorwegen NS9293 John Van Eekelen (Dutch Railroad NS_92_93 System Info Book) Nightmare on Elm FREDDY Chris Nelson (1:238/500) Street (game) Optune OPTUNE Bat Lang (1:382/91) OPTUNE11 OPTUNE12 Jeff Dunlop (1:203/16) OPTUNE13 Michael Toth (1:115/439.7) Paganitzu part 2 #2PAGA Harold Stein (via Ken Whiton, 1:132/152) Physician's Desk PDR-1 Bret Dunning (1:123/85) Reference PDR-2 PDR-3 PDR-4 PKLite Professional PKLT_PRO Eric Vaneberck (2:291/712) Version 1.13 QModem 5.0 QM50 Daniel Hagerty (1:208/216) QMODEM50 Larry Owens (1:280/87) QMODEM1 Jon Jasiunas (WildNet, via QMODEM2 HackWatcher Ken Whiton) QMODEM3 QMODEM4 Rambo (game) RAMBO Cimarron Mittlesteadt (via Ken Whiton, WildNet) Rampage (game) RAMPAGE HackWatcher Bill Dennison Red Baron game unknown Nolan Taylor (1:157/537) (by Dynamix) Robin Hood (game) ROBNHOOD HackWatcher Bill Dennison SimCGA SIMCGA40 Joe Morlan (1:125/28) SIMCGA41 NOTE: SimCGA went commercial with release 4.0, according to the publisher (via Joe Morlan). Versions prior to this were copyrighted free programs. SimCity (by Maxis) SIMCITY Mark Visser SHRCTY-1 Richard Steiner, SHRCTY-2 HackWatcher Smartdrive Disk Cache SMTDRV40 Michael Toth (1:115/439.7) Solitare Royale SOLITRYL Dan Brady (1:282/108) SOLIT Bud Webster (1:264/165.7) Sourcer disassembler SOURCER Bill Lambdin (1:343/45) Space Quest (game by SQUEST1 Chris Nelson Sierra On-Line) Spidey (game) SPIDEY Brian Henry (ILink, via Richard Steiner, HackWatcher Spot (7-Up game) SPOT Steve Hodsdon (1:132/199) COOLSPOT Jason Arthurs (WildNet, via HackWatcher Ken Whiton) Squish 2.1 SQUISH21 Several (verified by Joe Morlan) Squish Plus 2.01 SQUISH21 Stephen Kawamoto (Sundog Software) (1:153/7004) StormLord unknown Mark Visser (1:221/76) (game) Supaplex Unknown Kevin Donald (1:123/54) Rick Rosinski (1:239/1004) Dennis Matney (1:230/12) SuperStor SSTOR204 John Van Eekelen (2:500/228) System Control PCSSCC Ken Whiton, HackWatcher Commander (from PC Sources Mag) Tetris (the original) #1TETRIS Harold Stein (WildNet) The Bard's Tale pt. 3 BARDS-1 Chris Nelson (1:238/500) (game) BARDS-2 Tidbits TIDBITS Art Taber (game? from Softdisk) via Stuart Kremsky (1:125/28) Times of Lore (game) LORE Chris Nelson Toobin' (game) TOOBIN Joseph Lowe (1:387/1201) Top Gun TOPGUN Cimarron Mittelsteadt (WildNet, via Ken Whiton) Tunnels of Armageddon TUNNELS1 Wolfgang Fritz (1:249/140) TUNNELS2 UTscan UTSCAN Bill Lambdin (1:343/45) (part of the Untouchable package by Fifth Generation Systems) VGA-Copy v4.6 VGACPY46 Bert Bredewoud (2:281/703) (Registered Copy) Wolfenstein-3D WOLFSINC Jeff Kaplow (1:120/364) (Non-Shareware modules) ========================================================================= ?????Questionable Programs????? Cory Daehn (1:395/12) reports in the FidoNet PDREVIEW echo that there are three versions of our old friend XTRATANK. A recent message circulating in FidoNet about XTRATANK placing a two-part virus (half when installed, half when uninstalled) on your HD is true for the third version of XTRATANK, according to Cory. I have not seen this version, nor have I received any file sizes to compare to the version I sent to Bill Logan. However, I will report these when received. HackWatcher Matt Kracht forwarded a message from Stu Turk in the DR_DEBUG echo about possible Trojans going around as PKZIP 2.21 and/or 2.22. Stu also says that there is a warning about these in circulation. If you have a copy of this warning, please send a copy to Hack Central Station (1:382/95). On the game front, some official information about which Apogee releases are shareware. According to Jay Wilbur (1:124/6300) of Id Software, episodes 1 and 4 of Commander Keen, along with the demo version of episode 6 are distributable, as is episode 1 of Wolfenstein 3-D. Other versions of these games are not supposed to be posted for download. Rajeev Seth (1:250/328) reports in the FidoNet PDREVIEW echo on TGCHAT21, a program claiming to use the Soundblaster or AdLib card as the bell for paging the SysOp in Telegard. He says he tried to run this from a floppy disk and wound up trashing the floppy and his hard drive (drive D:). This might be due to the fact that it was run from the floppy, but it doesn't seem likely that a file like this could be that disk specific without being dangerous. As usual, if someone has further info, please forward it. Jan Welch (1:382/87) has reported in the FidoNet VIRUS echo a file called W3DEDIT.ZIP, which she claims is a Trojan that will attack your hard drive's boot sector. At first glance, this looks like a renamed WLFCHEAT, but I can't be sure. I've sent NetMail for more information, so be on the lookout and report anything you know about it, if you would. Steve Klemetti (1:228/19) has found an archive of the Apogee game Paganitzu (#1PAGA.ZIP) that may either be a hack or a corrupted archive. The file size is 281K, and the .EXE file within is 8K (vs 11K for the official archive. Steve says the opening screens go by "too fast," then the program puts your hard drive in "a constant seek mode." The file passed viral scanning. Like I said, this could just be a corrupt archive, but you never know. Just be on the lookout for an archive that meets these specs, and avoid it. The real thing is a pretty decent game, though, according to my 5-year old son, so don't avoid _all_ #1PAGA.* files just because of a bad version. BiModem is the subject this time, but the situation doesn't quite fit into any of the other categories of this report. A few users have seen a version called BIMOD125.* floating around, and wondered if it was a hack. Steve Baker (1:114/116.0) called the support BBS and verified your Hack Squad's information: v1.25 is a closed beta. Version 1.24 is the latest public release. This information was also verified by the Hack Squad (in lurk mode over in the BIMODEM echo) through a message posted by Michael Ingram (1:114/151). In short, if you see BIMOD125, delete it - it's a beta that shouldn't be out yet. Yet another one that doesn't seem to fit anywhere is a Windows program called WinSpeed. Bill Eastman (1:382/35) relayed a message from Alan Zisman (1:153/9) in the WINDOWS echo about this file, and Piyadaroon Kalayanamit (1:382/87) quickly cleared the confusion. Apparently, there are _two_ different programs called WinSpeed: one is a commercial package of Windows video drivers, which should not be posted for download on any BBS. The other is a small utility that will report your system speed from within Windows, and is a legitimate shareware file. James Brown (1:266/22.0) has reported in the WINDOWS echo that the shareware WinSpeed has been renamed to WINDSOCK. According to James, the author(s) took the original off of CompuServe, renamed it, and resubmitted it. Hopefully, this will ease the confusion, but there _will_ be copies floating around under the old name. So, be careful with this one. If you get a copy of the video driver file from someone, delete it: it is not shareware. Finally, several people have been wondering whether a shareware version of XTreeGold has been released. According to XTree Support (in the XTREE forum on CompuServe), the last shareware release of XTree was version 2.00E (XTREE20E). This is _not_ XTreeGold: in fact, no shareware release of XTreeGold has ever been made. It is unclear as to whether a copy of XTreeGold has spread beyond the "pirate boards," but this much is clear: if you receive a version later than 2.00E that is described as shareware, delete it. It's pirated. ========================================================================= Information, Please This the section of The Hack Report, where your Hack Squad asks for _your_ help. Several reports come in every week, and there aren't enough hours in the day (or fingers for the keyboards) to verify them all. Only with help from all of you can The Hack Report stay on top of all of the weirdness going on out there in BBSLand. So, if you have any leads on any of the files shown below, please send it in: operators are standing by. There have been some sightings of a version of PKZip called 1.99b. This is a supposed "beta" release. Your Hack Squad called up the PKWare BBS and found no mention of this version. Also, nothing has been said about it on the RIME PKWare Conference. I have posted an inquiry in the RIME conference, which should have an answer soon. In the meantime, if you see this file, please let me know about it. A message forwarded by Troy Dowding (WARNINGS echo, address unknown) from the Wildcat! support network points out a virus in a file named REGLITE. This message, originally from Michelle Mauro, reports that the file is infected with the Particle Man virus. It is not picked up by SCAN v95. I have no idea what the file in question claims to do, so I have asked for further information from Troy. In the meantime, if you see this file or know anything about it, please let me know. James Collins (1:102/1013) has found a program called Virus Simulator 2.0 (archive name unknown) that is supposed to be used to test virus scanners. He says the documentation looks authentic, but the program "looks like someone has hacked it so that it crashes purposefully." The file performs a self-check at startup, then crashes. I'm not sure if this is merely a corrupted copy of the program or one that has been tampered with. Also, I have no information on what the latest (if any) official version is. Please lend a hand here, folks - your Hack Squad could use it. Kim Miller (1:103/700) found a file called HOMELAWY.*, which is titled "Home Legal Form Helper." The program is copyrighted by OverDrive Systems, Inc. in 1989, and is shown as Licensed to MECA Ventures, Inc. Several people in the FidoNet SHAREWRE echo have reported this as a possible pirated file. I am not familiar with either company mentioned above, but Kyle Pinkley (1:3803/3.2) reports that they are the producers of the commercial package Managing Your Money. I haven't been able to completely verify any of this, so please forward any info you may have. Bud Webster (1:264/165.7) reports an Apogee game being distributed under the filename BLOCK5.ZIP. He says that the game displayed a message that said, "This game is not in the public domain or shareware." There was only an .EXE file in the archive, and no documentation. I need to know what the real name of this game is so that I can include it in the pirated files section (if necessary). Now, a sensitive subject. Arthur Shipkowski (1:260/213.2) forwarded a message from Kenny Root (GT-Net Shareware Forum), about a file called SHAMpage (SHMPG310.*). Kenny claims he downloaded this from a Door Distribution Network board, unzipped and ran it, and wound up with thousands of directories and the 1260 virus. This is the only report I have of this, and it is unconfirmed. I posted a question about this in a local echo in Austin, and found no one who had experienced the same symptoms. I also consulted George Vandervort (1:382/8), a beta tester for SHAMpage, and learned that the file that went out over the Door Distribution Network was perfectly legitimate and not harmful in any way. George speculates, and I agree, that if this situation is true, then it was possibly caused by someone infecting it in transit by adding a Zip comment (please contact George for details). George also says that if any copy does not have a "DrawBridge Zip Comment and Auto CRC check when unzipped," it was probably tampered with by some other system. For the record, the latest version according to George is SHAMpage v3.14. In summary, SHAMpage 3.10 is a legitimate file, but a tampered archive of it may be floating around. If anyone sees an altered archive of this file, please forward the information so that I can post specifics on it. A message in the FidoNet ASIAN_LINK echo from Choon Hwee (1:3603/263) grabbed my attention the moment I saw it: in capital letters, it said, "DO NOT RUN this file called MODTEXT.EXE, cause it is a TROJAN!!!". He goes on to say that two BBSs have been destroyed by the file. However, that's about all that was reported. I really need more to go on before I can classify this as a Trojan and not just a false alarm (i.e., archive name, what it does, etc.). Please advise. Greg Mills (1:16/390) posted a question to Robert Jung in the ARJ Support Echo (FidoNet) about a version of ARJ called 2.33. It was unclear as to whether or not Mr. Mills had seen the file. Mr. Jung has repeated that the latest version of ARJ is v2.30 (however, there is a legitimate public beta version numbered 2.39b). It is possible that the references Greg saw about 2.33 were typos, but you never know. Please help your Hack Squad out on this one - if you see it, report it. I still have no further confirmation of MTG2400, reported by Zach Adam of 1:2200/103. The description says this program will run a 2400bps modem like a 4800bps modem, which sounds a bit like the MTE program listed in the Pirated Commercial Software section. Any information would be appreciated. Larry Dinkoff (1:115/622) found a program called PCHOOKER, claiming to be a shareware serial file transfer utility. He says that he bought this as a commercial program about 4 years ago. I am unfamiliar with this program, so any info would be welcome. As the last item in this report, your Hack Squad could use some info on the TUNNEL screen saver. Ove Lorentzon (2:203/403.6) reports that this is an internal IBM test program for VGA monitors. HackWatcher Richard Steiner forwarded a message from Bill Roark (RIME address BOREALIS, Shareware Conference) that had some quoted text strings from the executable. One says, "IBM INTERNAL USE ONLY." This file is extremely widespread, however, so I need to hear from someone who knows what IBM's position on this is. Has IBM changed its mind and made it legal to distribute this via BBS? If you know for certain, please advise. ========================================================================= Clarifications George Staikos (via Mark Evans, formerly 1:382/87) previously reported a file called ADDMEM21 that is supposed to create additional low DOS memory by using your VGA memory. All it did was blank out his SVGA monitor. However, this seems to have been caught in a case of hardware incompatibility. Russ Johnson (1:103/132) states that this program is now up to version 2.5, and is a utility for increasing the amount of conventional memory by "remapping into the video area of the UMB." The symptom reported, a blanked-out screen, would not be an uncommon problem with any program that does this. Russ goes on to say that "the 2.1 version is good shareware." I had hoped to be able to post some information sent to me by Joe Morlan (1:125/28) from a list compiled by Wes Meier, SysOp of the WCBBS (1-510-937-0156) and author of the AUNTIE BBS program. However, your intrepid Hack Squad fell victim to some extremely persistant illnesses over the last month, so there just wasn't enough time to validate everything in the huge list he sent. This will not be a "vaporware" situation, however - look in the next issue of The Hack Report for the proof of the pudding. I apologize for the delay. ========================================================================= Notes FidoNet Node 1:382/87, The ECS BBS, referenced several times in this report, is no longer an active node. Reports from that node and its SysOp, Mark Evans, will not be removed from this report. ************************************************************************* Conclusion If you see one of these on a board near you, it would be a very friendly gesture to let the SysOp know. Remember, they can get in just as much trouble as the fiend who uploads pirated files, so help them out if you can. ***HACK SQUAD POLICY*** The intent of this report is to help SysOps and Users to identify fraudulent files. To this extent, I give credit to the reporter of a confirmed hack. On this same note, I do _not_ intend to "go after" any BBS SysOps who have these programs posted for d/l. The Shareware World operates best when everyone works together, so it would be counter-productive to "rat" on anyone who has such a file on their board. Like I said, my intent is to help, not harm. SysOps are strongly encouraged to read this report and remove all files listed within from their boards. I can not and will not take any "enforcement action" on this, but you never know who else may be calling your board. Pirated commercial software posted for d/l can get you into _deeply_ serious trouble with certain authorities. Updates of programs listed in this report need verification. It is unfortunate that anyone who downloads a file must be paranoid about its legitimacy. Call me a crusader, but I'd really like to see the day that this is no longer true. Until then, if you _know_ of a new official version of a program listed here, please help me verify it. On the same token, hacks need to be verified, too. I won't be held responsible for falsely accusing the real thing of being a fraud. So, innocent until proven guilty, but unofficial until verified. Upcoming official releases will not be included or announced in this report. It is this Co-Moderator's personal opinion that the hype surrounding a pending release leads to hacks and Trojans, which is exactly the opposite of what I'm trying to accomplish here. If you know of any other programs that are hacks, bogus, jokes, hoaxes, etc., please let me know. Thanks for helping to keep shareware clean! Lee Jackson, Co-Moderator, FidoNet International Echo SHAREWRE (1:382/95)