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Simple Virus For Teaching?
ed1023 writes "Currently I am teaching a 101 class on computers. It is more of a 'demystifying the black box' type of class. The current topic is computer viruses; I am looking for a virus with which I can infect the lab computers (only connected to local network, no outside network connection) that would be easy for the students to remove by hand. Can the Slashdot community point me in any directions? Is there an executable out there that would work, or do I try to write one myself, or is there one that is written that I can compile myself?"
That's not gonna work. The OP wants the students to be able to remove it.
He did specify that it should be "easy to remove by hand"...
Have you considered installing Windows?
Seriously, there are 'fake' viruses that are used for testing - really just a block of code that matches a virus signature, have you considered one of those? For example: http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm (as others have mentioned).
Ken
What you want is called EICAR, it's known as a test virus.
It's not an actual virus, but antivirus programs will detect it as one, that's what it's purpose is.
EICAR doesn't actually do anything, so nothing is as risk.
Now as to the warning:
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE A REAL VIRUS!!!! IT WILL GET LOOSE AND CAUSE PROBLEMS IF YOU DO!
You're dealing with noobs, and even if you weren't, it would still get out and cause problems, and that's assuming that you aren't someplace that would consider you liable, or worse, in possible violation of law for intentionally infecting computers.
Is all that alarmist? No, I've actually done a lot of work with viruses and their removal, and that includes work in an actual virus lab with real viruses. The only way to virtually guarantee a safe situation is a blackbox room. Nothing electronic goes in or out. No usb devices, no computers, no disks, no wireless, no network connections, no psps, no digital cameras, absolutely nothing. I don't think the school would be willing to pay for something like that, and to be honest, I don't think it'll work with computer 101 students as they just wouldn't understand.
You have no idea how many "isolated computers that nobody has access to so it absolutely can't be infected" are actually infected. It only takes one mistake, unknowingly or otherwise.
So just use EICAR and give your students a thrill without any risk on your part. It's better for everyone. After all, if you were teaching gun safety to some kids that have never seen a gun before, would you hand them loaded uzis?