Viruses

[Calbrit]

A general question regarding Psions/EPOC but as this is the Netbook forum I thought it most appropriate to post it here.

Due to the non MS operating system are Psions/EPOC based machines less likely to be attacked by the many viruses that are now around on the internet/e-mails?

Many thanks,

Grant

[diem]

Not just less likely to be attacked, un-attackable :D

To clarify this with respect to your question, the email-borne viruses seen flying around the 'net (propagated by flaws (and features!) in Microsoft's Outlook and Outlook Express) are targetted at Windows, i.e. they are only capable of running on the Win32 platform. Thus these viruses are incapable of infecting EPOC machines.

This is not to say that EPOC machines are impervious to viruses, just that no EPOC virus has yet been seen in the wild. Somebody find me some wood to touch....

[netBookBabe]

< Julie hands Yan a large wooden amulet! >

:D

[wanman]

My memory is not that good anymore but I am sure one of the big Virus Checker companies came up with some sort of virus software for the symbian platform. I think it was McAfee.

Ah just checked out their website and found VirusScan Wireless. It is designed to sit on your PC and check all files being sync'd/copied between your Psion and PC, warning you of any dodgy ones. I don't think there is one that actially sits on your machine and looks out for Symbian/ER5 specific viruses though.

They have just released a beta of a resident virus checker for the Palm OS machines so they may eventually come up with one for the ER5 platform. Mind you I think it is more likely that they will come up with one for the ER6 & 7 rather than 5.

Regards

Si

[diem]

< yan receives the amulet with grateful thanks! > ;)

[MikeMcC]

are Psions/EPOC based machines less likely to be attacked by the many viruses that are now around on the internet/e-mails? Just one word of warning. The Psion can still retrieve a PC Virus attachment and, if you backup to PC, the virus will be transferred to the PC, even though it's harmless on the Psion itself

[markdeppe]

<<<To clarify this with respect to your question, the email-borne viruses seen flying around the 'net (propagated by flaws (and features!) in Microsoft's Outlook and Outlook Express) are targetted at Windows, i.e. they are only capable of running on the Win32 platform.>>>

Would like to check as I also run an iMAC which does not seem to have ever been infected with viruses though numerous people warn me they have sent me viruses as there PC have crashed with it - recently been recieving lots of "Bugbear" virus warnings. I do run outlook express for Mac but do not run a windows emulator, does this mean a MAC is impervious toPC virus as it does not run "Win 32 platform".

I join with you in touching the wooded amulet, I feel truly blessed to primarily use a netbook and have safe files :-)

[diem]

you have it right, a 'PC' virus can only infect Windows PCs - you rightly assume that VirtualPC and the like running on a Mac would be susceptible, but the Mac itself is impervious to such viruses.

[Basss]

What I read o the dutch posts of this topic reads as that you can reseve the virus and than pass it to your pc when you synchronize it, Stop viruses and keep your PC safe with McAfee® VirusScan® software!" Zo luidt de reclameboodschap voor versie 7.0 die de PC tijdens synchroniseren beschermt. Eigenlijk alleen bedoelt dus voor emailattachements.
This is what was published on the dutch bullitunboard. It reads that virusscan scans the synchronised data for virus so that you can't infect your own system via your Symbian divice...

[markdeppe]

I saw this on psion virurses ( http://www.phaedrav.com/peat/articles/peatviri.htm ), maybe it just went round Canada, as I have not heard of it over hear.

Loads of other interesting FAQ etc. on this site, well worth a visit http://www.phaedrav.com/peat/peatlink.htm#Frequently .