SCRIPT.INI

What is it?

Script.ini is a file that is sent to users via DCC send during an IRC Session. It is basically a script that is lodged in the 'REMOTE' section of the mIRC IRC client, which will make mIRC do crazy things, including:

• Automatically dcc sending the file script.ini to any user who joins your channel.
• 'Echoing' your private conversations into a public channel.
• Allowing other users unrestricted access to your hard disk files, using fserve (see mIRC documentation)
• Allowing other users to prematurely end your IRC session by typing words programmed into the script.

• Script.ini is not a computer virus. It cannot infect your hard drive or any sectors contained therein.
• Script.ini is not 'caught'. You voluntarily accept the file from another user during a dcc session (see below 'Avoiding script.ini')

There are several ways:

• In your C:\mirc directory, there may be a file called script.ini (although is sometimes surreptitiously placed in a different directory).
• Your IRC Session keeps ending for no apparent reason, and you're damn sure you are not being nuked, 'cos you have downloaded all the protection from the Alphalink IRC Homepage.
• If in doubt, don't worry…you will soon be told by many users 'Hey…stop trying to dcc send me that damn script.ini file!!!!!'

Before getting rid of it, you need to stop it from working. There are a number of ways to do this. We recommend you follow these easy steps:

• Type /remote off (This will turn off your remote commands section in mIRC)
• Type /unload -rs script.ini (This will prevent script.ini from interfering with your current IRC session.)
• Either straight away or when you finish on the internet for the day, use your file manager to search for the file 'script.ini' and delete it….GONE!

As stated above, script.ini is not 'caught', but voluntarily received during a DCC session.

'Hey', you might say, 'I didn't go voluntarily go receiving some piece of crap file that's gonna play havoc with my system!!'.

Problem is, you may well have done exactly that, especially if someone has DCC'd you the script.ini file and you have got 'Auto-get Dialog' selected in your 'On Send Request' DCC options, because you would have automatically accepted the file, with no chance to say yes or no!

Here's the fix:

• Click DCC Options on the mIRC menu bar (8th button from right)
• In the section at the top right that says 'On Send Request' make sure that there is a radio button in the hole next to 'Show-get Dialog'.
• This FORCES you to click on the 'Accept' button if someone tries to DCC you a file.
• Follow the basic rules before accepting a file from ANYONE. This applies to all files, and not just script.ini:
  1. Know what the file is, and what it does.
  2. Know the person sending the file to you
  3. Don't launch the file immediately, have a look at it fist or check it for viruses if necessary.

Pop into #Channel or #Oasis - there's usually someone in there who can help you out!