Monte Goulding wrote:
>
> I'm sorry I'm unfarmilliar with this virus (thankfully) but how does this
> script commented out or not stop a virus?
>
> Regards from a not cheeky but quite confused Monte
You can find a full explanation of why this works, as well as other
Hypercard-related virus inoculations, at the HyperActive Software Virus
Compendium <http://www.hyperactivesw.com/Virus1.html>. Scott Raney and I
had a discussion some time ago about whether scripted viruses could
infect MC stacks, and I felt it was probably just a matter of time
before it happened. The same inoculations that work for HyperCard stacks
should work just fine for MC stacks. You will want to put the strings
into your Home stack script.
Since Bill Swagerty and I manage the Vaccine stack for HyperCard, it
seems that we should also take on the task of producing a similar
utility for MetaCard. However, I don't have time right now to do the
conversion, and Bill doesn't use or own MetaCard. Since he owns the
copyright for the stack, I can't just give anyone else permission to
alter it. I need to get in touch with him and see what he wants to do.
In the meantime, those who are infected can clear out the infection
manually and then use the inoculations. They should keep your MC
environment safe. By the way, blocking the "idle" message is not the
only inoculation you need; you need to block other system messages as
well. This is all listed on the HyperActive Software Virus Compendium
site at the URL above.
To manually remove the virus:
1. Delete the virus code in the stack script of your home stack. Insert
the inoculation scripts. Save your home stack. This will prevent Home
from becoming reinfected while you work on other stacks.
2. Open each stack and delete the virus code from the stack script. If
you can open the stack remotely with messages locked, you will further
safeguard your environment from infection attempts, since merryxmas
tries to trigger when various system messages are sent.
There are some very nasty versions of merryxmas that attempt to delete
files (fortunately, these seem to be rare and haven't spread
extensively.) Use the inoculation scripts, and read up on the other HC
viruses that may eventually migrate to MC.
The Virus Compendium also lists a very handy "set" trap that works well
in HyperCard to guard your Home stack against any script-based virus
activity, even those viruses which have not yet been identified.
However, because MC does not allow trapping system messages, this
handler can't be used in MC. You will have to rely on inoculations after
new viruses are found.
--
Jacqueline Landman Gay | [EMAIL PROTECTED]
HyperActive Software | 612-724-1596
Custom hypermedia solutions | http://www.hyperactivesw.com
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