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From: Peter Lakeman <>
Subject: [AVG] Re: Fw: READ THIS...How to stop viruses attaching to your address list
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 23:32:08 +1100
In-Reply-To: <200112101500.fBAF04n28152@lists2.rootsweb.com>


Hello Jerry,

As deputy list admin of this mailing list, I (or the list admin) would
normally have written to you privately reminding you that virus are an
off-topic subject on this list.

However, I need to discuss this subject on list as your post may cause some
confusion to other members. I am trying to tread the fine line of
correcting your information and not being publicly critical. I believe your
post was well intentioned.

The technique you mention is at best a hit and miss attempt at minimising
the effects after having contracted a virus. Firstly it only works on those
viruses that attempt to email to the whole address book of the infected
person (which many, including the latest widespread virus, Badtrans version
B, don't do). Secondly it is only partially effective for some email
programs (they all respond differently to invalid addresses in their
address books). Thirdly it will be mistakenly interpreted by some members
as a means of virus protection.

The real solution is to not be infected by viruses in the first place,
rather than try to prevent secondary infection.

There are only two methods of protecting yourself from receiving email viruses.

Firstly, do not open any emails that have an attachment. Most people should
be aware of the dangers of opening an attachment , but are unaware that an
attachment may be embedded in the body of the email, and that by simply
opening the incoming email (or by having the 'Preview' option enabled) will
activate the virus.

But you are liable to lose good information/contacts by adopting the above
approach.

Secondly (and by far the best approach) is to have a good anti-virus
program that automatically downloads the latest virus definitions each time
you go online. I recommend either of the latest Norton/Symantec or McAfee
programs. Remember that it must be kept up-to-date. If people have an
earlier one that doesn't automatically update each time they are online,
they should remember to download the latest virus definitions every couple
of days, preferably daily.

Considering that people have spent $1,000-2,000 (sometimes more, sometimes
less) for their computer systems, the cost of $50-100 to buy a good
Anti-Virus program is minimal in protecting their own data and
'reputation'. And don't forget to get a personal firewall while you are at it.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE UP-TO-DATE VIRUS PROTECTION, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING
ON THE INTERNET???

I hope the list admin will forgive me for stepping in and responding to
this post.

Some further info on recent widespread viruses can be found at
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~surreal/VirusInfo/

Hope the above explains things in more detail.

Peter Lakeman
______________________________________

>Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 21:33:12 +1100
>From: "Jerry" <>
>To:
>Subject: [AVG] Fw: READ THIS...How to stop viruses attaching to your
>address list
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Margaret C. <>
>To: Yvonne S. <>
>Sent: Sunday, 9 December 2001 15:14
>Subject: READ THIS...How to stop viruses attaching to your address list
>
>
> > > > Subject: Fw: How to stop viruses getting into
> > your address book
> > > > >>
> > > > >> This works; I suggest everyone do this to
> > prevent others from getting
> > > > >>infected e-mail's from them.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> As you may know, when/if a worm virus gets into
> > your computer it heads
> > > > >>straight for your email address book and sends
> > itself to everyone in
> > > > >>there, thus infecting all your friends and
> > associates. Well, this won't
> > > > >>keep the virus from getting into your computer,
> > but it will stop it from
> > > > >>using your address book to spread further, and
> > it will alert you to the
> > > > >>fact that the worm has gotten into your system.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Here's what you do: first, open your address
> > book and click on "new
> > > > >>contact" just as you would do if you were adding
> > a new friend to your
> > > > >>list of email addresses. In the window where you
> > would type your
> > >friend's
> > > > >>first name, type in AAA. In the window below
> > where it prompts you to
> > > > >>enter the new email address, type in
> > (this is a
> > >bogus
> > > > >>nonworking address). Then complete everything by
> > clicking add, enter,
> > > > >>OK, etc.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Now, here's what you've done and why it works:
> > the "name" AAA will be
> > > > >>placed at the top of your address book as entry
> > #1. This will be where
> > > > >>the worm will start in an effort to send itself
> > to all your friends. But
> > > > >>when it tries to send itself to AAA, it will be
> > undeliverable because of
> > > > >>the phoney email address you entered
> > (). If the first
> > > > >>attempt fails (which it will because of the
> > phony address), the worm
> > >goes
> > > > >>no further and your friends will not be
> > infected.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Here's the second great advantage of this
> > method: if an email cannot
> > >be
> > > > >>delivered, you will be notified of this in your
> > In Box almost
> > > > >>immediately. Hence, if you ever get an email
> > telling you that an email
> > > > >>addressed to WormAlert could not be delivered,
> > you know right away that
> > > > >>you have the worm virus in your system. You can
> > then take steps to get
> > > > >>rid of it!
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Pass this along to your friends.
> > > > >


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