BL> Windows obviously knows where it is, so program the worm to ask
BL> Windows and it'll confess. In other words, read it out of the
BL> registry. 

DD> Your executable cookie just got a little more complex.

 You keep asking forspecifics when my argument was merely that a
cookie offers another way into the computer... and it does. That
is inarguable (I would have thought, but apparently not for you).

BL> When I was running Win311, it had a REGISTRY of sorts, and as
BL> soon as I found it, I erased it! The absolute *last* thing I
BL> want on my computer is a centralised source of all information.
BL> It worries me about Linux, too...

DD> My Linux doesn't have a "centralised source of all information"
DD> - most apps/utilities have their own text based config file.
DD> Maybe you're running a distributions that's been too
DD> Windowised... 

 No... I can't remember the directory name offhand, but Linux has a
sort-of central location for the config files. For instance, Lilo has
its config that lets you actually change the boot... except that you
need to be ROOT to do it. That worries me... but not one-thousandth of
how Win98 worries me!

 In Win31 there was win.ini and system.ini in the Windows directory,
but that only set the defaults on loading. You could not *run* things
from in there, you had to get into the individual config files for
what ran automatically. Linux is more like that. Win98 (et al)
actually lets you *run* things from the registry itself.

DD>> I trust Symantec not to embed viruses in their data files.

BL> What if it's not actually Symantec?

DD> If they've taken over Symantec then I guess I'm fucked.

 It occurs to me that a false M$ or Symantec home page would be a
good way to spread a virus.

DD>> Firewall Bob - and be careful what you download and/or attempt
DD>> to execute. 

 I'm thinking more along the lines of stripping anything that isn't
plain text (or unsolicited), and leaving it on the Linux machine.

BL> A computer firewall is just another program given access to the
BL> O/S.

DD> It does not have to be. The firewall I have here is not running
DD> on my computer, it is a separate entity. It is contained in the
DD> case with the DSL modem/router - a firmware device. 

 Aha! That is more like it! You are not just a pretty face, David.

Regards,
Bob
   

   



--- BQWK Alpha 0.5