*** M E M O R U M ***

Has any one come across any malicious code for MTX computers, e.g. a virus?

Mark

The last I can rememeber was Turbo but, why do you ask?

Thats right, it sends back details on your driving style to the NSA.

I think he meant "Toado". Man, that was nasty.

Why do I ask?

Well, on a forum for another computer, there was a discussion on if a virus could exist, replicate and spread on a 8 bit computer system that has floppy disk drives. Some made the case that the computer that was being talked about could not support a true virus, as the OS, BASIC and DOS (but not called that on this computer system) are all in ROMs. So the so called virus would need a lot of "help" from the user (if one did exist).

I have been tinkering with computers since 1983 and until I got an Atari STFM, I had not heard of a computer virus. Of course, a virus needs a computer with suitable mass storage like a disk drive to survive and spread.

The standard MTX does not have a disk drive, so no viruses

However, a MTX with a disk drive can run CP/M. I only know a little about CP/M systems. I also am no expert in the MTX disk drive systems.

Hence the question...

I suspect the answer however to be something along the lines of , there is no known malicious code, and no viruses for MTX systems.

Mark

There is no known malicious code, and no viruses for MTX systems.

Regards
Dave

Always happy to oblige

Mark is however correct. A virus for CP/M is theoretically feasable. A quick Google found this discussion: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/c ... 2tjD34LhAJ

Contrary to what is stated there I think a virus for CP/M 2 is also possible. One target would be the Console Command Processor (CCP). This lies on the system tracks which are not included in the free space map, and is re-loaded by the BDOS whenever a program finishes executing.

I am not aware of any in practice though.

Bill.