GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives

Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1997-06 > 0865426385


From: "G . EDWARD ALLEN" <>
Subject: Re: Cowardly Medieval Computer Virus
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 05:13:05 -0700


D. Spencer Hines wrote:
>
> At 01:03 AM 6/3/97 +0000, you wrote:
> >D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> >>
> >> WARNING:
> >> snip> little computer virus being used by a perpetrator --- on
> GEN-MEDIEVAL.
> >It infects Microsoft Word documents and the Microsoft Word
> >> application itself.
> >
> >I certainly wondered about the possiblilty of some sort of virus, and
> >even spam operation going into effect, too, with the repeated postings
> >of advertising materials here just of late, and all the garbled
> >messages. I saw some garbled over in another non-related newsgroup two
> >nights back, too, btw.
> >>
> >> My strong advice is not to open any Microsoft Word documents [particularly
> >> attachments in your e-mail reader] from anyone whom you would not trust
> >> with your life and that of your computer. In fact, since an innocent
> >> person can unwittingly transmit an infected file --- I should not open any
> >> until the matter is resolved.
> >
> >I mail forward to our genealogy group such little tidbits as will help
> >them as I find them, and I forwarded your warning, since I generally am
> >the mail person for our genealogy society group.
> >
> >I sincerely hope I've not been any party to hurting anything. Couldn't
> >be deliberate, I can barely keep up with the conversation of the group,
> >most times : )) But I like to watch, and learn what I can about my
> >families.
> >
> >Here's my hat off to you, hope you can get it cleared away, and we can
> >rest easier. I have enough self made $$ problems with my computer, not
> >to need more. I have warned all my group, and we'll now await an all
> >clear alert. Thank you most sincerely, for your aide. Now, I'll go back
> >and sit in my corner, put my *Dunce Cap* back on, and do my Annie
> >Landers special, MYOB.
> >Regards, Billye D. Jackson, (this billye is a she
> >person)
>
> Thank you kindly Ma'am. The authorities I informed told me that they have
> not seen anything quite so vicious as this new diabolical wrinkle. Many of
> the commercial anti virus software programs can not currently detect and
> cleanse files infected with this virus.
>
> Attachments are sophisticated, allow for variable fonts and formatting and
> offer real value-added. But, in my opinion, we would be wise to eschew
> them for the time being --- particularly Microsoft Word attachments.
>
> There is no guarantee that we shall ever receive an "All Clear" I fear ---
> these terroristic threats are a serious and continuing matter --- and I
> suggest we shall all just have to learn to cope --- and hang, draw and
> quarter the guilty if we catch them. :)
>
> D. Spencer Hines --- "I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't
> like 'em myself. They're pretty bad --- I grieve over them long winter
> evenings. And I don't mind your ritzing me or drinking your lunch out of a
> bottle, but *don't* waste your time trying to cross-examine me." Humphrey
> Bogart [Philip Marlowe] to Lauren Bacall [Vivian Sternwood] in "The Big
> Sleep" [1946]

Sorry about your nasty little virus. Sounds mega-

That is one reason I do my net stuff on this Windows machine and live my
real life on a Macintosh. One of the advantages of the plummeting
popularity of Apple is that its not worth the effort to create a
mega-virus. It doesn't have the shock value.

Pleasant dreams,
K

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