THE VIRUS DESTRUCTION UTILITY - UPDATE VERSION 2.4
by Richard Karsmakers
Probably the most effective virus killer (and most used, too) is
the "Virus Destruction Utility" that I published in ST NEWS
Volume 2 Issue 8. In short, its history is as follows:
December 18th 1987: VDU Version 2.0GB launched in ST NEWS 2.8
(The first, basic versions. Allows 'Immunize' and recognized a
few boot programs)
January 18th 1988 : VDU Version 2.0NL launched in Atari ST Nieuws
(The worst version of all, due to space problems in the magazine
it was published in. Only recognizes viruses and 'dangerous'
disk. Only to be used as 1st Aid tool!!)
January 20th 1988 : VDU Version 2.2GB launched in ST NEWS Vol.2 C
(Recognizes some more boot programs and somewhat debugged)
February 15th 1988: VDU Version 2.4GB launched in ST NEWS 3.1
(Recognizes even more boot programs. No bugs left?!)
The current virus killer does not recognize all bootsector-
starting programs yet! The following is a list of programs that
it cannot yet recognize, and that it will suspect of containing
an unknown virus. Faulty use of the virus killer can destroy your
bootsector-starting program! This list is probably not complete.
If you want to help making the "Virus Destruction Utility"
complete, please send disks that belong to the below list or that
are also not recognized (suspected) by the current VDU version to
the ST NEWS correspondence address (together with reply postage,
if possible). You wil get your disks back un-harmed and your name
will be mentioned in the next VDU update (unless you don't want
it to occur).
This is the list: Deep Space disk A (Psygnosis), Arena disk A
(Psygnosis), Brataccas (Psygnosis), Jupiter Probe (Microdeal),
and Sapiens (Loriciels).
The next "Virus Destruction Utility" update will probably include
a way to annihilate the Eckhard Krabel virus (see an article
about the ST's Virus, elsewhere in this issue), as well as
recognition of more boot programs.
On this ST NEWS disk, you'll find a program called VDU_2_3.PRG in
the PROGRAMS folder. This is the latest update. No updates may be
expected before the start of April 1988.
See you next time, with an update of the VDU...
Disclaimer
The text of the articles is identical to the originals like they appeared
in old ST NEWS issues. Please take into consideration that the author(s)
was (were) a lot younger and less responsible back then. So bad jokes,
bad English, youthful arrogance, insults, bravura, over-crediting and
tastelessness should be taken with at least a grain of salt. Any contact
and/or payment information, as well as deadlines/release dates of any
kind should be regarded as outdated. Due to the fact that these pages are
not actually contained in an Atari executable here, references to scroll
texts, featured demo screens and hidden articles may also be irrelevant.