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Archiver > CENSUS-CHAT > 2003-01 > 1043775640


From: "Gordon A. Watts" <>
Subject: OT - Warnings about viruses
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 09:40:40 -0800


Greetings All.

In the past few days there seems to have been a resurgence of warnings
posted on various mail lists about supposed viruses circulating on the
net. The most recent has again been warning about a file named
jdbgmgr.exe that you are advised is a virus and it should be deleted.
This message seems to raise its ugly head every few months.

This particular virus warning has been well documented and is well known
to be a HOAX. Anyone deleting the file indicated will lose a legitimate
file that is loaded when Windows is installed.

The idiots that dream up these HOAX messages like nothing better than to
see their messages proliferate and take up untold amounts of Internet
bandwidth. They depend upon people, not knowing any better, and in most
cases very well meaning, passing the message on to everyone they have in
their email address book. In most cases I have found I receive more
HOAX messages than my anti-virus program catches.

PLEASE people, before passing on ANY virus warning message that you
might receive, CHECK IT OUT on one of the many Anti-Virus and Hoax
advisory websites. Most producers of Anti-Virus software have such
websites and they are easy to find.

The best defence against receiving a virus is to use a reputable
anti-virus program, and to keep its signature files updated on a regular
basis. This day and age, no-one should be accessing the Internet
without being protected by anti-virus software. If you feel you cannot
afford to purchase anti-virus software, there are a number of very good
FREE programs available online. Grisoft is one that I see frequently
used.

Do regular scans of your drives to ensure that you have not been
infected. Those using high-speed connections, in particular, should be
using firewalls for added protection. Firewalls can be either software,
or hardware when routers are used for home networking. Viruses and
worms can be introduced to your system by means other than email.

Windows users should also install the frequent free Windows Updates
offered by Microsoft. These mostly add patches to the system to block
or close known or newly discovered problems in the operatiing system.
Sometimes they add features to your system.

Again, PLEASE CHECK OUT ANY VIRUS WARNINGS BEFORE PASSING THEM ON! If
you discover them to be HOAXES, and in most cases you will, advise those
from whom you have received them so that they in turn can advise those
to whom they sent the original message. If everone follows this
procedure, we will cut down drastically on the number of false virus
warnings.

Have a great day! Happy Hunting.

Gordon A. Watts
Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee
Port Coquitlam, BC

http://globalgenealogy.com/Census
en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm

Permission to forward without notice is granted.


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