| Status | Hoax | | Comments | This virus allegedly, "distributes itself on the modem sub- carrier present in all 2400 baud and up modems." | | Description | SUBJ: Really Nasty Virus
AREA: GENERAL (1)
I've just discovered probably the world's worst computer virus
yet. I had just finished a late night session of BBS'ing and file
treading when I exited Telix 3 and attempted to run pkxarc to
unarc the software I had downloaded. Next thing I knew my hard
disk was seeking all over and it was apparently writing random
sectors. Thank god for strong coffee and a recent backup.
Everything was back to normal, so I called the BBS again and
downloaded a file. When I went to use ddir to list the directory,
my hard disk was getting trashed again. I tried Procomm Plus TD
and also PC Talk 3. Same results every time. Something was up so I
hooked up to my test equipment and different modems (I do research
and development for a local computer telecommunications company
and have an in-house lab at my disposal). After another hour of
corrupted hard drives I found what I think is the world's worst
computer virus yet. The virus distributes itself on the modem sub-
carrier present in all 2400 baud and up modems. The sub-carrier is
used for ROM and register debugging purposes only, and otherwise
serves no othr (sp) purpose. The virus sets a bit pattern in one
of the internal modem registers, but it seemed to screw up the
other registers on my USR. A modem that has been "infected" with
this virus will then transmit the virus to other modems that use a
subcarrier (I suppose those who use 300 and 1200 baud modems
should be immune). The virus then attaches itself to all binary
incoming data and infects the host computer's hard disk. The only
way to get rid of this virus is to completely reset all the modem
registers by hand, but I haven't found a way to vaccinate a modem
against the virus, but there is the possibility of building a
subcarrier filter. I am calling on a 1200 baud modem to enter this
message, and have advised the sysops of the two other boards
(names withheld). I don't know how this virus originated, but I'm
sure it is the work of someone in the computer telecommunications
field such as myself. Probably the best thing to do now is to
stick to 1200 baud until we figure this thing out.
Mike RoChenle
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