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- VIRUS-L Digest Monday, 27 Mar 1989 Volume 2 : Issue 72
-
- Today's Topics:
- Re: Dick Tracy vs. viruses
- Viruses & Media Inaccuracy
- Request for IBM PC Anti-virals
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri, 24 Mar 89 12:17:00 EST
- From: Ed Nilges <EGNILGES@PUCC.BITNET>
- Subject: Re: Dick Tracy vs. viruses
-
- I noticed that Dick Tracy is getting into computer viruses. The
- strip, which has run for years (and which was pulled by several papers
- years ago because of its violence and sleazy characters), is currently
- dealing with Tracy's fight against some bum who has infected the
- police department's machines. The strip seems to ignore the fact that
- mainframe computers have numerous offline and human controls that
- would make such an event extremely unlikely. As such, it is spreading
- disinformation.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Thu, 23 Mar 89 11:49 EST
- From: "J. D. Abolins" <OJA@NCCIBM1.BITNET>
- Subject: Viruses & Media Inaccuracy
-
- Relative lack of familiarity with computers is not the only reason
- for innacuray in media virus reporting. Among other factors, there
- is the notion that the readers/viewers would not understand the
- details or would have little interst if the complexities were
- proper;y explained. It is not only the media that takes this view.
- I have talked with computer security professionals who believe that
- it is better to blur the destinction between the classic viruses and
- other problem programs than to risk confusing the public.
-
- Another factor is the problem of type/time fitting. If a reporter
- has only 1000 words or three minutes of air time to report a virus
- case, it encourages the reporter to cut out details and paint
- everything with a large brushstroke. (I have gone through this
- fitting problem recently when I was asked to write a virus article
- for a NJ State Govt. MIS newsletter. If it's hard for someone who
- is aware of the complexities, how much harder it is for someone who is
- baffled by the complexities.)
-
- ------------------------------
-
- Date: Fri, 24 Mar 89 13:19:43 EST
- From: Arthur Gutowski <AGUTOWS@WAYNEST1.BITNET>
- Subject: Request for IBM PC Anti-virals
-
- I'm fairly new to this list, and I have seen this question crop up
- in past digests, but I'll go ahead and ask it again anyway...
-
- Here at Wayne State, our Computing Center has recently become actively
- involved in fighting viri on a large scale. We formed a small group
- on campus primarily responsible for disinfecting campus machines (both
- Macs and IBMs), making available PD and Shareware anti-virals to the
- university public, and educating people in preventative medicine.
-
- We are just getting off the ground, so I was hoping someone could help
- me out with this. I am looking for *any* IBM PC anti-virals in
- addition to what's on the Virus-l filelist at Lehigh. I have already
- gathered what's out there (at Lehigh) as a start, and I have also
- looked at the SCFVM's PUBLIC list (most of what's there seems to be
- Macintosh vaccines).
-
- I have heard mention of some other disinfectors/prevention mechanisms
- in addition to what's on virus-l (including HDSENTRY, DEBRAIN, and
- Vaccine.com) and some newer releases (FSP 1.51 and CHECKUP 2.1). Any
- other reliable disinfectors/checkers/etc. (PD, Shareware, or
- commercial) are welcome and appreciated.
-
- I would be very appreciative if you could give me any sources to look
- into, where can I get some programs, or if you have copies of any
- programs if it is possible to send them to me via my Bitnet address.
-
- Please send responses, etc. directly to me.
-
- Thanks in advance...
-
- Art
-
- PS> Thanks for your help and advice, Ken.
-
- - -=AGUTOWS@WAYNEST1.BITNET ~This TIME-SpacE ConTINuuM is FluuctuatING AGAin~=-
-
- ------------------------------
-
- End of VIRUS-L Digest
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