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LLF impossible for 20 years now
Tha last HD you could low-level format was MFM encoded, and they topped out at about 80 MB (that's right megabytes) as I recall. The higher density drives have all used some type of RLL encoding and ALL have IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics).

Which means simply that there is NO hardware path to the HDA and servos. So you can change the bits all you want in the preformatted sectors, but you can't redefine the sectors (which is what a LLF does).

The REAL issue is that the firmware in the IDE, like just about every other smart device out there is programmed in FLASH. This make it very convenient to update the BIOS on your motherboard or video card, or the firmware in your (optical) disk drive.

It also makes it possible for someone who's clever and has the time and inclination to put additional "features" into unused space in the FLASH (When was the last time the code and initialized data for something you wrote fit EXACTLY in that 1MB footprint you had?).

ron
Posted by: r_widell   Posted on: 02/28/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Scanning peripheral memory  John L. Ries | 02/28/07
Heasmas is a big help for the BAD guys!!  johnydii | 02/28/07
Bad Guys Already Know  pj_mouse | 02/28/07
The bad guys hate Haesman because he's warning...  Boomslang | 02/28/07
Scanning peripherial memory?  mtien888@... | 02/28/07
HEY LOOK!  Linux User 147560 | 02/28/07
It can, and does happen  DJnRF | 02/28/07
Re: It can, and does happen.  DJnRF | 02/28/07
Ummmmmm...  jjarman | 02/28/07
Ummmmm  DJnRF | 02/28/07
So, let me get this straight, you got a virus from a CD?  Scrat | 03/01/07
So, let me get this straight  DJnRF | 03/01/07
sorry to hear about your problems...  jjarman | 03/02/07
My ignorance showing?  archetuthus | 02/28/07
My corrective post.  DJnRF | 02/28/07
I realy cant See what all the fuss is about  rick200565@... | 02/28/07
pc='personal' computer  inertman@... | 02/28/07
Sometimes being  DarbyOhara | 02/28/07
Naive, Foolish, or Games?  DataArchitect | 02/28/07
Who says this problem is only for invasion of personal data?  DJnRF | 02/28/07
LLF impossible for 20 years now  r_widell | 02/28/07
LLF impossible for 20 years now  DJnRF | 03/01/07
no it is not  bluescreen_z | 03/03/07
LLF can't be done by drive itself  wolf_z | 03/30/07
LLF impossible for 20 years now  r_widell | 04/08/07
Senseless RANT!  DarbyOhara | 02/28/07
Most of us have EEPROM tools  CodeCurmudgeon | 03/01/07
RE: I realy cant See what all the fuss is about  texan46 | 03/01/07
Still not seeing an answer  gretel111 | 02/28/07
Ok Here... EPROM 101  DarbyOhara | 02/28/07
What an insulting moron...  BigThunder1 | 03/03/07
Hi Gretel...  BigThunder1 | 03/03/07
I heard of Viruses infecting firmware  Zolar | 02/28/07
CMOS memory scare, anyone?  Martin.Taylor@... | 03/01/07
Although a remote attack would take MANY steps to achieve...  Scrat | 03/01/07
Routers  Kungfoofighterx | 03/01/07
So that's what it is...  rmcguire@... | 03/01/07
it happened with AGP ATI Radeon 9800PRO AIW card & W9x  peter.michalakis@... | 03/02/07
IMHO... As per usual,...  BigThunder1 | 03/03/07
Just wanted to say...  wolf_z | 03/30/07
Kudos, BigThunder -- This is Serious, and...  Jeff Hayes | 04/01/07
Any and All Threatening software  spacepioneer | 03/06/07
I knew about this months ago  walkerjian@... | 03/30/07

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