CAPE-FEAR-SCOTS-L Archives

Archiver > CAPE-FEAR-SCOTS > 2001-05 > 0988882461


From: "Mary M. Lander" <>
Subject: Re: Virus infection
Date: Thu, 3 May 2001 04:34:21 -0500
References: <3.0.5.32.20010503011341.01143c20@synthcom.com>


Ok, old dumb grandma needs to know. How in the world can you tell if an
e-mail message is an exe or a pif or scr,
bat, or vbs without opening the file and printing it? I appreciate people
telling us what not to do or what to do, but the
critical thing we need is HOW TO DO what you say we should do.

Mary Lander


- Original Message -----
From: J.D.McEachin <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 3:13 AM
Subject: Re: Virus infection


> At 05:25 PM 5/2/01 EDT, wrote:
>
> >The download of long files has become an addiction with most of us and
there
> >is where the trouble seems to be.
>
> I've been downloading long files for 20 years and I've never gotten a
virus. Long files aren't the problem. Ignorance is the problem.
>
> Lisa gave some good advice on file types to avoid opening, though she
forgot to mention that .com, .bat, and .vbs files are dangerous too. You
should also make sure that any program that can automatically run macros
when opening a file, such as Word, Excel, and Lotus Notes, has that feature
turned OFF.
>
> If you're using Windows, go to Start Menu - Settings - Control Panel -
Add/Remove Programs - Windows Setup - Accessories, and turn OFF the Windows
Scripting Host. This will lessen the risk of accidentally running a .scr
file. I don't think MacOS' AppleScript has the same sort of destructive
capabilities.
>
> I also recommend not using virus friendly email software, such as
Microsoft Outlook and Netscape Communicator that will automatically run
embedded javascript. This is like having a car that will unlock the doors
and crank the engine when anybody approaches it and says the not-so-secret
word. Why should you be surprised when somebody steals and wrecks it? Use
free software such as Eudora or Pegasus that won't automatically run viruses
for you. If you MUST use one of the bad programs, then make sure you spend
the time to find out how to turn off this stupid "feature", and how to plug
all of the numerous security holes (especially w/ Outlook). Whatever
program you use, DON'T TURN ON HTML EMAIL - IT'S EVIL.
>
> If you need to know more, there are LOTS of tutorials on the web.
>
>
> I know all of this might seem terribly complicated to some of you, but for
me, it all boils down to this: I use Eudora, w/ NO HTML email. If someone
sends me an attachment, then I look at what kind of file it is. .jpg?
Good. .mp3? Good. .ged? Very good. .txt, .doc? Ok, but why didn't they
just cut and paste it into an email? Everything else I delete. This
doesn't require much time, thought, or effort at all.
>
> JDM
>

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