[missing-sync-palmos-talk] VIREX 7.5 CONFLICTS WITH PALM DESKTOP 4.1 & HOTSYNC UNDER MAC OS 10.3.3

[Arkady]

PROBLEM -- 

Since I've installed a newly announced(4/8/04) Virex 7.5. I get "File Busy"
when I Quit Palm Desktop 4.1, and or try to HotSync to my Tungsten T3, and
then HotSync Quits.

I've also noticed that my programs launch slower after I installed Virex 7.5
 
SOLUTION --  

I've Deleted Virex Log in Item, and I was still getting File Busy when
Quitting PD, and I CAN'T HOTSYNC -- I am SCREWED!

I re-installed PD from the CD that came with my Tungsten T3. The PROBLEM
STILL EXISTS. 

In Finder I search for items containing "Virex", and Deleted them, with the
exception of a couple of Saved Virex Reports. After Restart, the PROBLEM IS
GONE! I.e. Open-Quit Palm Desktop is OK, and HotSync is fine.

I've Secure Deleted Virex 7.5, then I logged into my .Mac, and downloaded
and Installed my previous version of Virex 7.2 (free Download) -- NO
PROBLEMS!!! 

CONCLUSION -- 

Virex 7.5 is Beta. Whether it protects against the newly announced Mac OS X
Trojan Horse http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/04/08/trojan/   I
don't know.  

This explanation from a friend,  a former Apple employee put my mind
somewhat at ease:  

-----------------------
Looks like you're safe.  Here is the skinny on the virus for OS X and
the virus on your computer:

The virus for OS X is found within MP3 files.  And just having it on
your machine does nothing. As of yet, it is not out, its just something
that can happen.  Here is a quote from Symantec, "It is a proof of
concept Trojan that does affect the Mac platform, however it is
currently not present in the wild. Symantec Security Response will
continue to closely monitor this and any other potential threats to the
Mac OS X platform." Note that they used the phrase 'not present in the
wild', this means that it can be done, but hasn't been done yet.

The Viruses on your mac are Windows viruses, and cannot affect your
computer at all. Here is a link for details on the virus on your
machine: http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_100662.htm

Basically, the only way someone would get the virus from you is if you
forwarded the virus manually.  Since it is a windows virus, it cannot
compromise your machine. It also appears to be in your deleted mail
folder.  So if you compact empty, or expunge that folder (depending on
the term used by your mail program), it will go away....

If your virus software uses a similar resource/file as the Palm
software, it may cause a conflict when palm software tries to quit.  I
would recommend sending the Virex people a note and see if they are
aware of any issues with the software... Sounds like a
standard software conflict that needs to be addressed by the software
vendors, and since it has only occurred after installing Virex, I would
talk to them first.
-----------------------

So, the way I understand it, in plain English, there is
"bus-train-plane-Tojan Horse"  possible, that Windows SPECIFIC Virus(es) can
take into Mac-OSX-Land:), but, since no Mac SPECIFIC Viruses have been
discovered, yet:), this "bus-train-plane-Tojan Horse" can only deliver
Windows SPECIFIC Virus(es) that can't harm Mac OSX computers.

Whether Mac SPECIFIC Viruses will be discovered, and when, only time will
tell!!! Hopefully Apple will close the "holes", so that those
"bus-train-plane-Tojan Horses" can't get in...

HOPEFULLY, .Mac will provide a Virex Update that can protect us against
those "bus-train-plane-Tojan Horses", without EFFECTIVELY DISABLING Palm
Desktop Software, and HotSync. Bad enough, we are already on a €death row€,
given that Palm Source has OFFICIALLY dropped Mac OS Support, higher then
10.2.6...  

As to Virex 7.5 Beta, it looks like it had a lot more Options in its
Preferences, but they were quite CONFUSING! The SEEMED to be no way to
disable it from running on the Log In(Restart), or Always in the Background,
which slowed down my Powerbook 17, 1.33Mghz.

MY ADVICE -- 

DO NOT INSTALL VIREX 7.5 IF YOU ARE USING PALM DESKTOP 4.1, OR AND HOTSYNC
TO PALM PDA!!!  

HOPEFULLY Virex Folks will respond to this email, as well as post a
statement on http://MacMinute.com , http://MacCentral.com and other major
Mac News Outlets...

• Arkady 
web site: http://www.arkady.com