| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| richfed |
Posted - November 15 2002 : 1:40:40 PM
This is meant to enlighten, not to frighten! Internet viruses are a common thing these days and are just about everywhere. We get anywhere from a handful to a couple of dozen of virus-infected E-mails per day!
Every PC that accesses the Internet should be armed with a good anti-virus program [McAfee, Norton, etc.]. That software should be upgraded whenever upgrades become available, and - very important - updated with the free, usually weekly, .dat file downloads that are available. Without these, your system has no way to catch the latest & greatest little buggers! Plus, in addition to regular scans, you need to keep the software activated on your system, particularly when downloading or retrieving your E-mail.
Why am I telling you all this?
Well, George Bray, a user of this forum, a personal contact, and the Web Site's "official" historian, brought to my attention the fact the he was getting what seemed to be virus-infected mail coming from ME! I asked him to forward the next one he received over here. He did, and it was apparently a virus-free attachment, however it was something I had never myself sent. It did not originate from my computer. I forwarded it on to my ISP, and they too cleared it of any virus. That's good, but the bad thing is that some kind of "worm" must have accessed something to get E-mail addresses and the like. Lo & behold, I received one of these things from "Dragonslayer." That'd be Soldier #2! I have no doubt that Eric never saw this thing, much less sent it. My theory is that someone who is in some way a part of this web site community, unbeknown to them, does have a virus that is replicating itself through their, and maybe others', address books ... I don't know, I'm just guessing.
I do know that my sytem is clean ... and I just ran a very thorough scan just to be sure. You should all do the same, first chance you get.
So, the rule of thumb is to never open unknown attachments, even when they appear that they are from someone who you know! Looks can be deceiving. Good anti-virus software and following that rule can successfully combat these lunatics who are forever trying to disrupt the Internet.
The computer you save could be your own! 
PS - This has nothing whatsoever to do with the downtime you may have noticed the web site experiencing the past couple of days. That's a server problem ... and it's makin' me mad! Maybe it's fixed now ... |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Theresa |
Posted - November 16 2002 : 11:13:18 PM
Ilse,
Our son graduated from the University of Alabama in advertising and graphic art design and he SWEARS by Apple! He uses it daily in making his living.
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| Ilse |
Posted - November 16 2002 : 6:17:36 PM
Hi Scott,
I started a multi media designing course last month, and obviously, in that institute they use Apple. Frankly, I thought all the stuff about Apple being superior was just propaganda, but now I have to admit I'm very impressed. So yeah, if I can save up the Euros, I'll happily switch. 
Ilse |
| Theresa |
Posted - November 16 2002 : 09:46:05 AM
Me too! Took care of that last night. Thanks, Rich.
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| Scott Bubar |
Posted - November 16 2002 : 07:22:32 AM
You've inspired me to update my Norton. |
| Adele |
Posted - November 16 2002 : 04:12:39 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Scott Bubar
That's tellin' 'em, Ilse!
(Ilse's right, the virus could have picked your address from any person you've ever mailed that uses Outlook and also has George's address, so it doesn't necessarily mean you have cooties. But it's still pretty embarrassing.)
If George got the same virus as I did (and it sounds like it)- its an absolute bugger! I have a LOT of protection on my pc, and unfortunately I got the virus the day before the fix came onto my antivirus software (which would have detected it and quarantined it). Ilse is quite right about Outlook Express...I got rid of it the same day and now use another mail program.
Golden rule, never open (or preview) mail from anyone you don't know...and even if you do know them, if the header looks a little odd, it would be better to email the person back and ask if they sent it before you open it.
HM |
| Scott Bubar |
Posted - November 15 2002 : 9:07:30 PM
That's tellin' 'em, Ilse!
(Ilse's right, the virus could have picked your address from any person you've ever mailed that uses Outlook and also has George's address, so it doesn't necessarily mean you have cooties. But it's still pretty embarrassing.) |
| Ilse |
Posted - November 15 2002 : 6:46:42 PM
Rich,
Most of these viruses use the Outlook Express address book. Other mailprograms are not so vulnerable. People should just not use Outlook Express anymore, until Microsoft makes it safe to use it. As for me, I've had it with Microshit; I'm shopping for a Mac right now.
Ilse |
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