before sending them out to be duplicated and distributed.

• If you sell software, please check your master disks for infections



software you receive.

distributing it. You should also, of course, run Disinfectant on all new

Mac community. Please carefully test all new software before

public domain and shareware software have a special responsibility to the

• Bulletin board operators and other people who maintain and distribute



backup.

• Back up your servers frequently. Run Disinfectant just before each



server.

• Check all new software with Disinfectant before installing it on a



section.

details on scanning servers, see the discussion in the “Special Features”

Northwestern, we try to check all our servers once a week. For more

that Disinfectant will be able to scan all the files on the server disk. At

Disinfectant from the virus tools disk. This is the only way to guarantee

production, start up the server from your virus tools disk, and run

are uninfected. For best results you should take the server out of

• Check server disks frequently with Disinfectant to make certain they



when it is possible.

write-protected folders, but you should make every attempt to do this

own file or folder, it is not always possible to put applications in

spread very rapidly. Since some applications insist on writing to their

protected by a protection INIT. This is one way in which viruses can

will in turn quickly infect any other Macs on the network which are not

infection to the application on the server. If it is a popular application, it

network that accesses the disk and uses the application might spread the

application is in a writable server folder, any infected Mac on the

not have the “Make Changes” privilege. On the other hand, if an

disks. Viruses cannot infect applications if they are in folders which do

• Try to put software in write-protected folders on AppleShare server



on the preferences window for details.

• Create a special “virus scanning station” in your lab. See the section



document.

to use the application. Distribute printed copies of the Disinfectant

protect against them. Give them copies of Disinfectant and teach them how

• Educate the people in your organization about viruses and how to





once a week.

start-up disks. At Northwestern University we try to check our lab disks

start-up disks. We have discovered that students love to play with the

protection INIT or GateKeeper is still installed and active on all your

that they are uninfected. Also check to make certain that the Disinfectant

• Check all your lab disks frequently with Disinfectant to make certain



start-up disks.

• Install the Disinfectant protection INIT or GateKeeper on all your lab



make certain that their software is free from infection.

viruses. People who sell software also have a special responsibility to

share Macs, or share a Mac network, is a perfect breeding ground for

domain and shareware software. An environment where many people

networks, Mac laboratories, Mac bulletin boards, or collections of public

The remaining recommendations are for people who manage Mac





shareware, and freeware.

Disinfectant. This rule applies to all new software—commercial software,

• Before using new software, check it for possible infections with



infected.

not become infected and to make certain your system has not become

• Run Disinfectant just before each backup to make certain the backups do



• Make periodic backups of your hard drive, at least once per week.



virus to infect files on a locked floppy.

and use the copy. Never unlock the original disk. It is impossible for a

new piece of software, immediately lock the disk it came on, make a copy

• Keep original software on locked floppies. Use copies. When you obtain a



grief.

religiously. They only take a minute to install and they can save you much

• If you do nothing else, use the Disinfectant INIT or GateKeeper



should take the problem seriously.

There is no need to panic over the current virus situation. However, you








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