Re: Software Upgradable BIOS (PC)

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Article #4369

#4369

From: decomyn
Date: Fri, 24 May 1991 05:38

26 lines
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walker@aedc-vax.af.mil (William Walker C60223 x4570) writes:
>Here's something that should make the anti-virus community cringe.
>Intel has announced a chip which would allow users to upgrade their
>BIOS using a floppy disk.  The term I saw was "erasable programmable
>read-only memory (EPROM)," but more likely the actual technology in
>the chip is EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) or EAROM
>(electrically alterable ROM).

Intel is planning on using Flash EEPROM technology, but, as I
understand it, with a twist -- The user will have to explicitly
activate the reprogramming function by pressing a button, flipping a
switch, or some similar physical function.  Fortunately, since no
forseeable virus technology will allow the little beasties to reach
out and press a button, I don't believe there is that much to worry
about in this technique.  (I hope :-)

>Bill Walker ( WALKER@AEDC-VAX.AF.MIL ) |
>OAO Corporation                        |
>Arnold Engineering Development Center  | "I'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat"
>M.S. 120                               |
>Arnold Air Force Base, TN  37389-9998  |

Brendt Hess a.k.a.             | Disclaimer: Opinions?  I don't even work here!
Vergil William de Comyn a.k.a. |-----------------------------------------------
Payne Hirds                    |       Life is not a zero-sum game:
decomyn@phoenix.css.tek.com    |          don't treat it as such.

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From: decomyn@phoenix.css.tek.com
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: Re: Software Upgradable BIOS (PC)
Message-ID: <0007.9105281329.AA07374@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 24 May 91 05:38:55 GMT
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