![]() Here you’ll find an introduction to the JScript language and a complete command reference. If you fancy writing a few scripts yourself, take a look at Microsoft’s introduction, or the more detailed coverage. He even includes sample code, demonstrations and information on how to protect yourself. If you want to be profoundly disturbed you could visit Gregori Guninski’s site for his latest discoveries in reading, writing and executing local files using scripting languages and Internet Explorer. The bugs that allow the KakWorm family to proliferate have been patched, but security concerns about the whole. One Microsoft site shows how you can use it to write a basic web browser with little more than 40 lines of code. Along with regular HTML statements, HTAs can incorporate a scripting language called JScript. Well to do all that, you’re thinking, there must be a whole lot more to it than the simple example I’ve given here. But that doesn’t stop it setting itself up in your Registry to start up each time you boot Windows and attaching copies of itself to all your outgoing emails. ![]() Unlike its parent, Wscript.KakWorm, it’s neither particularly common nor particularly dangerous. The official name of the virus Warwick sent me is. ![]() It’s obviously less efficient, especially for really big or commonly used programs, but effective nonetheless. This happens every time your program is run. It then sets about converting the English-like statements into an application. When you double-click the file, this third-party is started and passed your program code. Interpreted programs on the other hand require the assistance of a third-party. Windows executable’s (.exe files) are compiled programs. The human-readable program code is converted into an optimised form that the computer best understands. Compiled languages undergo a “build” process before their programs can be used, but when they’ve done so they don’t require any other assistance to run. There are essentially two types of programming languages compiled and interpreted. It’s not difficult to see their appeal to virus writers and the like since, in Microsoft’s own words, “Your application is fully trusted and free from the restrictions placed on web pages for security reasons.” ( Gulp! ) HTA files can be sent to you from web pages or via email and run by default. hta programs can be run without a browser as standalone applications. That’s what you were actually writing in Notepad. With Internet Explorer 5 you not only get a browser and email client, you also get a fully fledged programming language that requires only Notepad to code real-life Windows programs. Maybe I’ve had my head in a bucket for the last year or so but it’s certainly news to me. You’ll have to excuse me if this is all old hat to you. The result is that your simple text file has suddenly become a fully fledged, stand-alone Windows program. Now save the file, close Notepad, change the extension to. txt, double-click it again (to start Notepad) and enter the following code: So isn’t this empty file just starting some unknown application?Ĭhange the file’s extension back to. html file will do the same for your browser, a. txt file will cause Notepad to be started and the contents of the file to be read into it. The three letter extension at the end of a file name is used by Windows to determine how the file is to be handled. (Windows will ask you if you’re sure about that click Yes.) Now double-click the file. ![]() Change the extension at the end of the file name from. Windows will create a new file with the default name “New Text Document.txt”. Right-click the mouse on an empty space on the desktop, choose New and select Text Document. You’ll need to have Internet Explorer version 5 (or later) installed and you should open My Computer and check that you’ve deselected “Hide file extensions for known file types” under View But how can a text file be a virus? And why should NAV get so upset?īefore we go any further you might like to try a little experiment. Admittedly a rather techy looking text file but a text file nonetheless. ![]() The sort of file you open and alter with Notepad. Well here’s what surprised me this virus is a text file. Okay, you’re thinking, so what’s the big deal? Viruses aren’t exactly uncommon. Which is just as well because when I asked Norton AntiVirus to check it out it threw up its hands and cried “Danger! Danger! Alien intruder!” He has his email program set to not run scripts automatically, so when the attachment arrived it did nothing. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |