Is SystemZ a virus?

andreas · 20 November 2002, 23:51

I'm really confused.

I've always thought that SystemZ is NOT a virus, but a virus protector looking for other viruses, either removing them when detected or at least telling about their existence on the disk.

So is it really a virus or should the TOSEC naming be revised therefore?

RetroMan · 21 November 2002, 00:33

http://home4.inet.tele.dk/vht-dk/desc/all.htm

Just have a look at the letter "S" in that list and I guess you will find what you´re looking for

21 November 2002, 13:47

I got with my A600 a disk labelled 'White Lightning' 'Copying Disk' . When I load it up an introduction screen about this System Z product appears. I press enter and the program starts loading. It then quickly says 'System Z strikes again with copy disk number 4'. The actual program is Amiga Copy 1.3. I can't see any problem here but should I be worried?

Big-Byte · 21 November 2002, 14:30

Reading that info it looks like System Z is a virus masquerading as an anti virus program.

RetroMan · 21 November 2002, 15:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Big-Byte
Reading that info it looks like System Z is a virus masquerading as an anti virus program.

That´s exactly the point

21 November 2002, 16:03

What about my copying disk? Does anybody know of it? I'm thinking now that if I used it I might get a virus put on whatever I copied with it.

andreas · 23 November 2002, 17:55

OK Retro, thanks for this link.

Anyway: You can't fool me. THIS IS NOT A VIRUS but it does absolutely no harm. Info file says that SystemZ can detect SCA and ByteBandit viruses, which means that it just writes a clean boot block if ByteBandit or the like is in the boot block.

Can this do any harm?

Methinks not. During my active Amiga period, I've seen SystemZ on AmigaDOS disks ONLY. This means that NO CUSTOM LOADER is destroyed if SystemZ detects a ByteBandit or similar virus.

pcGTW_Webmaster · 25 November 2002, 13:15

It is a virus! Why ? Because it a) can override a bootblock without asking the user and b) it duplicates itself. And this is the exact definition of a virus...

20 November 2002, 23:51	#1
andreas Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Germany Age: 39 Posts: 5,858	Is SystemZ a virus? I'm really confused. I've always thought that SystemZ is NOT a virus, but a virus protector looking for other viruses, either removing them when detected or at least telling about their existence on the disk. So is it really a virus or should the TOSEC naming be revised therefore?

21 November 2002, 00:33	#2
RetroMan Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Germany Age: 40 Posts: 3,704	http://home4.inet.tele.dk/vht-dk/desc/all.htm Just have a look at the letter "S" in that list and I guess you will find what you´re looking for __________________ --~~= RetroMan =~~-- -= AmigA =- -= ForeveR =-

21 November 2002, 14:30	#4
Big-Byte Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: UK Posts: 726	Reading that info it looks like System Z is a virus masquerading as an anti virus program. __________________ Big-Byte

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21 November 2002, 13:47	#3
NytroX86 Posts: n/a	I got with my A600 a disk labelled 'White Lightning' 'Copying Disk' . When I load it up an introduction screen about this System Z product appears. I press enter and the program starts loading. It then quickly says 'System Z strikes again with copy disk number 4'. The actual program is Amiga Copy 1.3. I can't see any problem here but should I be worried?

21 November 2002, 16:03	#6
NytroX86 Posts: n/a	What about my copying disk? Does anybody know of it? I'm thinking now that if I used it I might get a virus put on whatever I copied with it.

23 November 2002, 17:55	#7
andreas Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Germany Age: 39 Posts: 5,858	OK Retro, thanks for this link. Anyway: You can't fool me. THIS IS NOT A VIRUS but it does absolutely no harm. Info file says that SystemZ can detect SCA and ByteBandit viruses, which means that it just writes a clean boot block if ByteBandit or the like is in the boot block. Can this do any harm? Methinks not. During my active Amiga period, I've seen SystemZ on AmigaDOS disks ONLY. This means that NO CUSTOM LOADER is destroyed if SystemZ detects a ByteBandit or similar virus.

25 November 2002, 13:15	#8
pcGTW_Webmaster Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Germany Posts: 877	It is a virus! Why ? Because it a) can override a bootblock without asking the user and b) it duplicates itself. And this is the exact definition of a virus...

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