Security question (sort of)

From: Jason Willgruber <roblwill_at_usaor.net>
Date: Sat Mar 20 00:07:40 1999

The serial ports are no longer recognized ANYWHERE - in the BIOS, in DOS, by
MSD, Windows, anything. I have already re-installed Windows.

A virus planted by a hacker can damage hardware by "eating" at the chips, or
just scrambling the code in the chip. (I know someone (Ironically, it's the
sister of the person that did this to my computer), who's keyboard
controller chip got scrambled.

If you noticed the red text on the top of the page, I have removed all of
the images. I just didn't feel like deleting all the links.

--
                 -Jason Willgruber
               (roblwill_at_usaor.net)
                  ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
-----Original Message-----
From: Sellam Ismail <dastar_at_ncal.verio.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 6:51 PM
Subject: OT: Re: Security question (sort of)
>On Fri, 19 Mar 1999, Max Eskin wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 19 Mar 1999, Jason Willgruber wrote:
>> >Check out my website:
>> >
>> >http://members.tripod.com/general_1
>> >
>> In summary, it caused damage to the serial ports. Any computer whose
>> hardware can be damaged by software in this way should be thrown off the
>> Empire State Building.
>
>I think what Jason may not have initially realized (and maybe still not
>yet even) is that his Windows system configuration files got screwed and
>therefore his serial ports are no longer accessible under windows.  As far
>as I know, its impossible to physically damage a serial port through
>software unless you make it possible by building a device whose soul
>purpose is to electrically short pins on the serial port on command.  And
>of course, no sane persson would go through the trouble.
>
>So all he really needs to do is probably go into the Cntrol Panel, select
>System, then go to ports, remove the old serial ports (if they are still
>there) then add them again.  Or maybe let windows find them for you with
>the Add New Hardware icon.
>
>BTW, I checked out the web site but all the links are bad.  They all end
>up at a Tripod "page not found" page.
>
>Sellam                                    Alternate e-mail:
dastar_at_siconic.com
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
>Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out.
>
>                  Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0
>                   See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details!
>                        [Last web site update: 02/15/99]
>
>

Received on Sat Mar 20 1999 - 00:07:40 GMT