| Christmas Tree Joke this page last updated 12-16-98

### Christmas Tree Joke

"FUN programs" appear around significant holidays every year. We have seen numerous fun holiday programs from concerned customers. Practice "safe computing", if you have any doubts, do NOT run any questionable item! Particularly don't run unsolicited programs or documents you receive.

We have received a program called TREE.EXE from a number of customers asking if the file is infected with Spacefiller or CIH. This appears to be an urban legend going around just now. The several samples we received so far are all identical and about 2Meg in size. The first was analyzed and tested and is being used to compare to the new samples we receive. The results of our testing so far has not revealed any virus, SPACEFILLER or otherwise. This does not mean someone could not infect the same program with any virus and re-release it, either deliberately or even accidentally.

New viruses are easy to find, they replicate themselves on the host machine and files. Damaging or other payloads are not. More importantly, no one can guarantee a program free of potential harm! If you are ever in doubt about a file you receive, delete it.