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COPYQ317
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VIRUS.DOC
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1994-09-28
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2KB
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To Users of Microsoft DOS Anti-Virus (MSAV)
October, 1993
If you were one of the people who ordered the DOS Anti-Virus
Update offered with the Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Update, Sydex feels
that there is something that you should know.
Version 1.1 of the DOS Anti-Virus Update (MSAV) erroneously
identifies CopyQM versions 3.00 through 3.05 as containing the
"Virus Cruncher" virus and specifies that the files COPYQM.COM,
CQMENU.COM and VIEWCONF.COM should be deleted. These files, as
distributed by Sydex, DO NOT CONTAIN THE INDICATED VIRUS.
The "Cruncher" virus is, in fact, a legitimate virus, having
surfaced in the Netherlands sometime around June, 1993.
As far as Sydex has been able to determine, the false virus
indication arises from Sydex's use of Teddy Matsumoto's DIET
executable file compressor, which is a public domain compressor
similar in function to PKWare's PKLITE or Francois Bellard's
LZEXE compressors.
Both DIET and the relevant versions of CopyQM were in wide
circulation long before the emergence of the "Cruncher" virus.
MSAV and its updates are produced by Central Point Software, not
Microsoft. Sydex contacted Central Point and reported the
problem in August after the indication was reported to us by a
user of both CopyQM and MSAV. Central Point, for its part,
ignored our letters and so we were forced to turn the matter over
to our attorney. At this time, Central Point has acknowledged to
Sydex that a false indication is produced by MSAV 1.1 and that
the subsequent update, MSAV 1.2, does not produce the indication.
However, Central Point has not notified MSAV 1.1 customers about
the false indication of the "Virus Cruncher" virus in CopyQM.
Microsoft has investigated the situation and confirms that MSAV
1.1 produced false virus indications for CopyQM.
It is noteworthy that none of the other leading virus detectors
tested by Sydex committed the same error, even though several of
them do recognize the "Cruncher" virus.
Sydex obviously does not benefit from the accusation of virus
infection made by MSAV 1.1. The issue of damage to Sydex's
reputation still needs to be resolved between Central Point
Software, Microsoft and Sydex.