This article is from the Computer Viruses FAQ, by Nick FitzGerald n.fitzgerald@csc.canterbury.ac.nz with numerous contributions by others.
Each DOS program is run in a separate Virtual DOS Machine (their memory
spaces are kept separate by OS/2). However, any DOS program has almost
complete access to the files and disks, so infection can occur if the
virus infects files; any other DOS session that executes a program
infected by a virus that makes itself memory resident would itself
become infected.
Also, bear in mind that generally all DOS sessions share the same copy
of the command interpreter. Hence if *it* becomes infected, the virus
will be active in *all* DOS sessions.
 
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