VDPCVIRP.RVW 960605 "PC Virus: Understanding and Prevention", Webster/Gwartney/Heuckendorf, 1992, 0-922264-01-5 %A Bob Webster %A Kurt Gwartney (presenter) %C 5 South Vann Street, Pryor, OK 74361 %D 1992 %E Michelle Heuckendorf (editor/presenter) %G 0-922264-01-5 %I ViaGrafix %O +1-918-825-6700 +1-800-842-4723 fax: +1-918-825-6744 %P 45 min. %T "PC Virus: Understanding and Prevention" It is difficult to know whether or not to recommend this. On the one hand, knowledge of computer viruses is so limited that this short presentation is almost bound to raise awareness. It might, therefore, be suitable as part of a general computer orientation for large companies. On the other hand, the material is extremely limited. Given the nature of computer viruses, it is not surprising that most of the tape consists of "talking heads" and the reading of text storyboards. There are occasional screen shots of messages and screens from antiviral and utility software, as well as "dramatic re-enactments" of people passing disks to each other. There has, however, been almost no attempt to illustrate the concepts being discussed or to make the material captivating to the viewer. The presenters show all the personality of a couple of mannequins and seem to be delivering a report to some unseen board of directors. Because the concepts are not well explained, the material seems to contradict itself at some points. The definition of a virus relates only to file infectors (and Jerusalem is the major example used), although boot sector infectors are discussed briefly after more then half the tape is over. An early dramatization suggests that backups are useless against viruses, but backups are suggested, twice, in the list of preventative measures. Some technical details, like a brief reference to DOS program precedence, are irrelevant (the allusion is not to companion infectors), while others, like the explanation of how to accomplish a "clean boot", are not given enough space. The McAfee SCAN and CLEAN programs (version 97, from 1992) are included with the tape. About a quarter of the time is spent demonstrating the programs, including documenting the command line switches. Documenting, but not explaining: a list of switches contains two entries of "see below for [an] explanation" which never comes. Too bad an editor didn't actually read what they were throwing up on the screen. It is very difficult to read the onscreen text, some of which is used as documentation of command examples. Certainly shots of the use of Norton Utilities to examine infected files are unreadable. This makes them less than useful for the stated purpose of demonstrating changes to files, but also keeps the tape from spreading virus code. There is a very odd attitude towards virus writers. While always stating that viruses are bad (they range from "nuisance" to "destructive"), the presenters continually refer to the writing of viruses as "challenging", "interesting", or a game. They also repeat, as fact, the "Desert Storm" virus myth. The presentation does cover the three major types of antiviral software, and does have decent points to make in regard to prevention. The advice on disinfection is less useful: they recommend that you contact a local computer dealer (all too often a source of virus spread) and suggest that a reformat of the hard disk may be needed in difficult cases. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1996 VDPCVIRP.RVW 960605 ====================== DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters roberts@decus.ca slade@freenet.victoria.bc.ca Rob_Slade@mindlink.bc.ca Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" 0-387-94663-2 (800-SPRINGER)