Virus on Library cdrom? NO.

[Andrew Mutch]

I would agree with Gary on this one. The only variable that I've encountered
with these kinds of CD-ROMs is that some of these software packages have been
known to include "spyware" apps that get installed along with the application
the patron intends to use. So, if you ran something like Ad-aware, you would
find "rogue" applications that you didn't ask to be installed sending data of
your use of the Internet to some web site.  However, as obnoxious as "spyware"
is, it's a long leap from having "spyware" installed to getting a worm that
causes the hard drive to be corrupted.  I think this is a good example of the PC
tech either:

1) Blowing smoke because he couldn't explain the real cause of the hard drive
corruption

Tech: "Uh, what was the last thing that you used on the computer?"

Patron: "This CD from the library."

Tech: "Really? Well, yeah, it...it...it probably had a worm that corrupted your
hard drive. Yeah, that's the ticket!"


2) Making assumptions about cause and effect.  See #1.

Andrew Mutch
Library Systems Technician
Waterford Township Public Library
Waterford, MI

"Masters, Gary E" wrote:

> Always remember to never use always or never.  Unless, of course, you really
> have to.
>
> But in this case, it does not seem reasonable.  The worm, if there were one,
> came from else where.  More likely, the repair person messed it up.  I have
> managed to mess up a registry to the point that I had to reformat the drive.
>
> Gary
>
> Gary E. Masters
> Librarian (Systems)
> CDRH - FDA
> (301) 827-6893
>
>         -----Original Message-----
>         From:   Beth DeGeer [SMTP:bdeg at bartlesville.lib.ok.us]
>         Sent:   Wednesday, November 07, 2001 6:41 PM
>         To:     Multiple recipients of list
>         Subject:        [WEB4LIB] Virus on Library cdrom?
>
>         Hi all:
>
>         A patron came to me today and claimed that the library's copy of
> JumpStart
>         Kindergarten, which she had checked out and installed on her
> computer, had
>         given her a worm, and it had corrupted most of her hard drive.  She
> got this
>         information from the pc repairman who fixed her PC.  Is this
> possible?  I
>         did not think one could re-burn a CD.  The CDROM she borrowed is the
> actual
>         one we purchased commercially, and it's printed with the logo, etc.,
> so I
>         don't think anyone has substituted another CDROM.  Any opinions?
>
>         Beth DeGeer
>
>         Youth Services Librarian/PC Administrator
>         Bartlesville Public Library, Bartlesville OK
>         bdeg at bartlesville.lib.ok.us
>         http://www.bartlesville.lib.ok.us
>
>
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