identically. Disinfectant properly detects and repairs both versions.

were very minor and both versions were programmed to behave

There were two slightly different versions of MacMag. The differences



will issue an error message.

original HyperCard stack. If you try to run the repaired stack, HyperCard

Disinfectant repairs both infected System files and infected copies of the



disks which might still be infected.

recognize it and repair infected files just in case you have some very old

software is infected with this virus. Disinfectant will nevertheless

Since MacMag was programmed to self-destruct, it is unlikely that your



and then deleted itself from the System file.

on March 2, 1988, the virus displayed a message of peace on the screen

of the introduction of the Mac II. The first time the system was started up

MacMag was programmed to wait until March 2, 1988, the anniversary



to System files.

originated on a HyperCard stack, it does not spread to other stacks, only

less frequently than they share applications). Even though the virus

slowly than the other viruses (because people share System files much

Since applications are not infected by MacMag, it spreads much more



the virus spread to the System files on the floppies.

containing System files were subsequently inserted in a floppy disk drive,

spread to the currently active System file. When other floppy disks

pictures of the then new Apple scanner. When the stack was run, the virus

Products.” The stack contained some exceptionally poorly digitized

System files. It originated as a HyperCard stack named “New Apple

Unlike the other viruses, MacMag does not infect applications, only



after the Montreal offices of MacMag magazine, from where it originated.

as the “Drew,” “Brandow,” “Aldus,” and “Peace” virus. It was named

The MacMag virus appeared in December, 1987. This virus is also known




xThe MacMag Virus