NOTES about the use of UNP. (UNP411.ZIP)
- UNP is NOT designed as an automated program. You must be aware that
there are two possible side effects from it's use (possibly more).
- First, UNP cannot be made to NOT prompt for input. Therefore it may
prompt for input and THD cannot supply the necessary keypress.
- Second, THD uses a switch which instructs it to remove all levels of
embedded compression. It is possible under some circumstances for this
usage to throw UNP into a permanent loop trying to expand some files.
- ONLY UNP version 4.11 is supported. Other versions may or may not work.
- If UNP is used when conversions are being done then THDPRO.EXE will use the
fallback method of testing (it will delete all files prior to re-archiving
and re-expand them from the original archive to ensure that the files have
not been modified by UNP).
- UNP is not used on the "original" file. That is
"THDPRO.EXE C:\TEST\TEST.EXE"
would not cause UNP to run on TEST.EXE itself, but if TEST.EXE were an SFX,
then it would be run on all of the files expanded from this file. (we can't
arbitrarily change the original file)
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*** Should you or should you not use UNP? ***
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On the plus side, it increases the odds of detecting a virus considerably,
and runs reasonably fast.
On the minus side, it "may" freeze your board awaiting input. As well as
if you intend to use it, conversions will be done as a separate step (taking
longer than without it)
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*** Would "I" use it? ***
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Yes.. But "I" don't run a BBS. No-one is counting on my board being "up"
at all times. I will almost always be there to "press a key" if need be (and
it's no big deal if I'm not). I always have an extra three seconds to make
sure the file is virus free.
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*** Should "you" use it? ***
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For supervised testing... without a doubt. The added security could well
be worth it.
For unsupervised testing... It's tough to say, I would say that "if" the
loss of single-step conversions is something you don't mind, then try it. If
it locks up your system, stop using it during the automatic testing process.
As a general rule of thumb, I recommend using it until such time as you
find it hampers your system. The increased chance of viral detection is well
worth it if all you loose is the few seconds to expand the files to their
uncompressed format.
UNP is Cardware. If you use it, please drop the author a Post Card.
David Muir... Author THD ProScan.