ATARI ST VIRUS KILLER HISTORY Remark: All version 2.x AVK versions are Public Domain. Versions 3.x, 4.x and 5.x are commercial. - Version 2.0PRE (December 12th 1987) This version was called "Virus Destruction Utility". This was the first ever version to appear. It was only slightly spread on a meeting of ST Club Eindhoven (Holland), on December 12th 1987. It basically only recognized the "Signum" virus, and did not yet recognize any harmless bootsectors. - Version 2.0GB (December 19th 1987) The first version to strike a larger audience - through Volume 2 Issue 8 of the PD disk magazine "ST NEWS". - Version 2.0NL (January 18th 1988) This version was even more rudimentary than 2.0PRE, and was in fact a very short version of 2.0GB, programmed to be a type-in listing for a Dutch magazine called "Atari ST Nieuws" (Issue 1). It was only meant for very basic 'first aid' conditions!! - Version 2.2GB (January 20th 1988) The first update. Some harmless bootsectors were now also recognized. It was published on the "ST NEWS" Volume 2 Compendium disk. - Version 2.3GB (February 15th 1988) A version that was published along with the disk magazine "ST Info" (Issue 3). Later that day (after sending the program off to the editor of the mag) I received some more bootsectors so that I had to make version 2.4GB one day later. - Version 2.4GB (February 16th 1988) Published on the "ST NEWS" Volume 3 issue 1 disk. Recognized 2 bootsector viruses (Signum and Mad). This version's source was also published, and this resulted in at least three other virus killer versions to be made (one with a basic disk monitor included - by Herman de Vrees - and one with graphics and digitized sound effects - by someone called An Cool of The Carebears). - Version 2.5GB (March 27th 1988) Never commercially available The first version with a largely re-programmed boot sector recognize algorithm. This was never published and remained on my work disk. It was in fact a fore-runner of the first commercial virus killer, but only recognized bootsector viruses (no link- viruses). - Version 3.0GB (April 10th 1988) The first commercial version. It was largely worked over and the major part of its code entirely re-written. This version could now also REPAIR damaged bootsector data disks. Its main statistics: 46 recognized bootsectors, 2 recognized bootsector viruses, 1 recognized link virus, 33 boot sectors could be repaired. - Version 3.1GB (May 30th 1988) The BPB repair option was included, some bugs removed, code optimized. Its main statistics: 65 recognized bootsectors, 3 recognized bootsector viruses, 1 recognized link virus, 46 boot sectors could be repaired. - Version 3.2GB (September 11th 1988) The first version that was to set the standard. The 'write anti- virus' option was included, and a second linkvirus could now be recognized. Its main statistics: 106 recognized bootsectors, 10 recognized bootsector viruses, 2 recognized link viruses, 71 boot sectors could be repaired. - Version 3.3GB (March 1st 1989) After massive feedback on the 3.2GB version, many more viruses and innocent bootsector can be recognized. This feedback also resulted in some coding improvements such as: Partition scan, help option, and much more. Its main statistics: 176 recognized bootsectors, 18 recognized bootsector viruses, 4 recognized link viruses, 121 boot sectors can be repaired. - Version 3.4GB (April 13th 1989) There were some bugs left in 3.3, especially in the routine that scanned a whole partition for link-viruses. All known bugs have been removed (quite a lot, it were!). ALL folders are now scanned, no GfA errors occur anymore. The whole program is now also 'legally programmed' and does not use those obsolete absolute addresses anymore! A buffer for unknown bootsectors during one session is also implemented. Its main statistics: 193 recognized bootsectors, 19 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 136 bootsectors can be repaired. - Version 3.5GB (April 28th 1989) The final small bugs/inconveniences have been removed. The check for link-viruses has been completely reprogrammed and viciously optimized so that checking of link-viruses is now 48.1% faster with a Cache-program/FAT optimizer installed and 55.2% faster without one of those installed. The "AVK" linkvirus checker is now the fastest ever conceived on the ST: Each filecheck takes approximately 0.057 seconds (this value was 0.111 seconds in "AVK" v.3.4, and is 0.075 seconds in the fastest competing viruskiller, programmed in C!)... The bootsector virus checker is also completely redesigned and reprogrammed, and is now considerably faster as well. All this reprogramming made sure that the program actually decreased in size for the first time since its first creation... Its main statistics: 204 recognized bootsectors, 20 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 139 bootsectors can be repaired. - Version 3.6GB (May 28th 1989) Name changed from "Virus Destruction Utility" to "Atari ST Virus Killer", copyright proprietor CRL Plc., England. Code even more optimized, different title graphics, heavy anti- virus facilities discarded. The main program is now also compressed (the original code is 122,271 bytes in length). Its main statistics: 223 recognized bootsectors, 24 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 151 bootsectors can be repaired. - Version 3.7GB (June 1st 1989) Never commercially available Just some minor code enhancements and increased statistics. The problems with the software blitter "Turbo ST" in combination with color monitor and the busted screen layout have been solved. Again, the main code has been compressed. Its main statistics: 227 recognized bootsectors, 26 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 151 bootsectors can be repaired. - Version 3.8GB (June 14th 1989) Never commercially available Again, the program code has been enhanced and optimized, whereas the statistics have also again increased. The program now also works excellently together with TOS 1.4. Decompressed program file length is over 135 Kb. Also, some specific changes requested by CRL have been performed. Its main statistics: 235 recognized bootsectors, 26 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 157 bootsectors can be repaired. - Version 3.9GB (August 31st 1989) General code and statistics enhancements. Decompressed program length almost 136 Kb - 42% compressed off. An unsuspected quantity of little bugs and inconveniences have disappeared. Its main statistics: 265 recognized bootsectors, 27 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 184 bootsectors can be repaired. - Version 4.0GB (May 24th 1990) Never commercially available It has taken a very long time for this version to be finished, but each and every one of the almost 40 weeks involved have been spent well! Let's get through the changes of this version: Some last small errors are dismissed, DTA address determination better, compatibility with FAT speeders and cache programs increased, STE (TOS 1.6) and TOS 1.4 compatibility assured, program fully re- written and optimised in GfA Basic 3.07 (including cross- referencing), error handling routine included, program checks itself for link-virus infection on startup, disk immunization method enhanced, system status check now also includes recognition of vector-bending programs (incl. XBRA structure), picture on disk is now compressed and only ONE for both resolutions, new AntiVirus version writable, some useless repairable bootsectors removed (including some by other virus killers), new bootsector virus type recognised, memory management redone (AVK now works on machines with a bit more than 200 Kb free instead of the previous 400 Kb), system status now gives proper TOS version number (as well as GEMDOS version number), manual enhanced and Appendix A fully rewritten (I daresay the clearest and most comprehensive virus recognition-and 'NO PANIC!'-guide yet). Decompressed program size almost 170 Kb - packed almost 45% off. Its main statistics: 451 recognized bootsectors, 42 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses and 262 bootsectors can be repaired. The uncompressed program is over 160 Kb in size. PLEASE NOTE that there has been a 'version 4.0' of this program which was still called "Virus Destruction Utility", and which was programmed at the beginning of 1988 (TWO years before!). This version is extremely OLD, mindstaggeringly BAD, in ONE FILE, was PUBLIC DOMAIN (of some sort) and it is a blatant DEMO! - Version 4.1GB (June 28th 1990) Never commercially available Manual and program somewhat improved; statistics increased. Bugs have been repaired (some stupid typos, actually, and a bug involving floppy media change, causing read errors at the link virus check for every second disk), e.g. the ones that caused a crash in System Status Check Screen when no valid application was found on Hdv_bpb or Hdv_rw vectors. Better Rob Northen Copylock Protection bootsector recognition. Formatting a disk before writing an bootsector image file to disk is now also possible, and the 'repair' list can now be gone through at steps of ten titles as well. Program now compressed with new packer (49% of original size left!); data file also packed (47% of original size left!). Its main statistics: 533 recognized bootsectors (YEAH! More than 500!), 42 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 27 recognized anti-viruses, 45 recognized special applications and 304 (YEAH! More than 300!) bootsectors can be repaired. PLEASE NOTE that there has been a previous version 4.1, which was a blatantly BAD, very OLD demo in ONE part! Thrash it! Throw it away! Do never use it again! It was written somewhere around the summer of 1988. - Version 4.2GB (January 8th 1991) Never commercially available Wrong recognition of "Dragon's Lair" and "Dragon's Breath" corrected, as well as that of the "MAD" Virus. Further, partitions up to 'Z' inclusive can now be checked - which means Atari Metados compatibility. General statistics increase. Text output in the alert boxes has also been tidied up (actual alert box routine made a bit better in an optical way, too), and the alert box options can now also be selected using the cursor arrow keys. Other nice thing: The program is now TT compatible and detects Bigscreens and the KAOSDESK alternative Operating System. The reset resistant application check of the system status screen is now written in machine code and thus much faster (no time to make coffee anymore when you happen to have more than 1 Mb of memory). Also, the Rob Northen Copy Lock recognition is improved and the VPF calculation is made more accurate and faster. Picture loading can be skipped by pressing the 'Control' key during booting (until the first alert box occurs). Its main statistics: 666 recognized bootsectors, 45 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 32 recognized anti- viruses, 50 recognized special applications and 378 bootsectors can be repaired. - Version 4.3GB-4.9GB were never produced. - Version 5.0GB (May 7th 1991) Version number jump to mark a significant change: CRL went broke so copyright proprietor is now Douglas Communications in England - who are, off the record, likely to make a much better job of it than CRL did! The name of the program has not been changed. Crash at bootup in case of non-presence of data file on disk now alleviated. Program now only works in DEMO mode when running on an ST emulator called "Medusa" on the Amiga. One of the new viruses to be included was previously recognised as Antivirus #4 - thus, this antivirus' recognition had to be improved as well. "Manual linkvirus search"-and "Save .IMG file"-fileselectors now remember the previously used paths. Startup picture dismissed (thanks for allowing this, Niall!). Unexecutable/busted BPB bootsectors better recognised. System Status Screen now also indicates whether GDOS is installed or not. In the bootsector 'repair' list, a standard immunized disk is now also contained. When written, this will leave the current disk's BPB intact, thus allowing you to forcibly repair bootsectors you don't want (virus free- and MS-DOS bootsectors for example). Better compression routine used for data file (Pack Ice 2.20). Main program compressed with other packer since Pack Ice couldn't do it successfully any more. Many on-their-own bootsectors (bootsector demos and stuff like that, over 20 of them) have been removed from 'repair' and replaced by new game bootsectors and such. A date/time will be requested upon program start-up in case the date is not valid. Date and time are now also permanently displayed in each alert box. After the startup 'system status screen', the program refuses to run (and, in fact, resets the system) when a virus is noticed in the system. Unfortunately, due to increased program size, the program will not be able to load in the data file on 512 Kb machines. To run 100% (including the data file), the program needs about 470 Kb FREE memory (which is impossible on 512 Kb machines...)! Its main statistics: 731 recognized bootsectors (some of the existing ones have been improved), 47 recognized bootsector viruses, 5 recognized linkviruses, 32 recognized anti-viruses, 58 recognized special applications (some existing ones have also been improved) and 392 bootsectors can be repaired. - Version 5.0NL (May 7th 1991) Identical to version 5.0GB apart from the name (which now is "ACN Final Virus Killer") and some texts (some texts were translated to Dutch). - Version 5.1GB (Approximately June 1991) Or: What to expect in future updates (not necessarily 5.1, and maybe not at all). I am planning to rewrite the program's entire screen output code so that it works flawlessly on all screens with a resolution of 640x200 or higher. This means even better TT compatibility, and also means that 'bigscreens' are supported. Also, I intend to enhance the 'repair' screen so that one can even quicker select a title (by pressing their first character, for example). Of course, the general statistics will be enhanced as much as they can, and possible bugs will be discarded.