HOFMANN-L Archives

From: "Michael G. McManness" <>
Subject: [Hofmann] e-Address & e-Inbox virus protection
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 11:09:29 -0600

Hi Everyone,

My computer picked up a virus somehow quite awhile back even though I was
running anti-virus software and it wasn't any fun. Recently we have seen a
rash of new viruses that are spreading like wild fire. I wanted to let you
know about a computer trick that is really ingenious in its simplicity. As
you may know, when or if a virus gets into your computer it can head
straight for your e-mail Addresses or e-mail Inbox and send itself to
everyone in there, thus infecting all your friends and associates. You see,
that is how these viruses are spread. No one wants to admit that they are
infected. And if you do *not* have virus software running on your system,
that is being updated regularly (this cannot be stressed enough), then you
could be infected and not realize it. There are two major commercial virus
protection software McAfee http://www.mcafee.com and Norton Antivirus
http://www.symantec.com, there is a site with a free virus scan option that
will at least let you know if you have picked up any nasty gremlins that you
are unaware of. So, take a moment to visit Trend Micro's HouseCall
http://housecall.antivirus.com/ and run the free scanner. Not only will
Trend Micro's HouseCall tell you if you are infected it will deal with any
discovered viruses. This service is very easy to use and worthwhile because
it puts your mind at ease. There is no substitute for good anti-virus
software updated regularly! This trick will *not* keep the virus from
getting into your computer, but it will stop it from using your Addresses to
spread further, and it will *Alert* you to the fact that the virus has
gotten into your system.

Follow the instructions below:

QUICK INSTRUCTIONS

1. Open your Addresses and click on New Contact just as you would do if you
were adding a new friend or associate to your list of e-mail Addresses. In
the box where you would type your friend's first name, type in !000, that's
an exclamation mark followed by 3 zeros. In the box below where it prompts
you to enter the new e-mail address, type in e-AddressAlert. If it tells
you this is not a valid address just say yes to add it, or ok. Then
complete everything by clicking add, enter, ok, etc.

Here's what you've done and why it works: The Contact !000 will be placed at
the top of your Addresses as entry #1. This will be where the virus will
start in an effort to send itself to all your friends and associates. But
when it tries to send itself to
!000, it will be undeliverable because of the phony e-mail address you
entered, e-AddressAlert. If the first attempt fails, which it will because
of the phony address, the virus goes no further and your friends and
associates will not be infected.

2. Open a New Mail e-mail message. Address the New Mail e-mail message to
yourself by putting your e-mail address in the To: box.
In the Subject box below add - Subject: e-InboxAlert Below in the body of
the message copy and paste this message for reference. I suggest that you
save this message in your Drafts folder so that you always have a copy
should you mistakenly delete it. Next complete this protection by copying
and pasting to make a valid copy of your Draft Message or an *actual
message* and send it to yourself. *Leave* the message at the top of your
inbox so that it is the first message that the virus sends itself to.

Here's what you've done and why it works: Your e-InboxAlert e-mail message
remains at the top of your inbox. This will be where the virus will start
in an effort to send itself to all your Inbox e-mail. When it sends itself
to you first, you will be alerted by another e-mail message with the subject
title e-InboxAlert. It will then be necessary to clean your computer with
your anti-virus software. If you are like me and uneasy about viruses put
your mind at ease by following-up with a double check by another anti-virus
protection. Take a moment to visit Trend Micro's HouseCall
http://housecall.antivirus.com/ and run the free scanner. Not only will
Trend Micro's HouseCall tell you if you are infected it will deal with any
discovered viruses. This service is very easy to use and worthwhile.

The *advantage* of these methods: if an e-mail cannot be delivered from
your Addresses you will get an e-mail telling you that an e-mail addressed
to e-AddressAlert could not be delivered or if you receive an e-mail in your
Inbox from yourself with the subject line e-InboxAlert, either way, you will
be *notified* of this in your Inbox almost immediately. Hence, if you ever
receive these notifications, you will know right away that you have a virus
in your system. You can then take steps to get rid of it!

Unfortunately, some viruses are random and there is no substitute for good
anti-virus software updated regularly. If you are running virus protection
software, that you are updating regularly (this cannot be stressed enough),
you will not need to panic.

I hope this information helps. If you have problems or further questions
please let me know. :-)) Thanks, Mike

*************************

Michael G. McManness, a Jayhawk through and through, eating, sleeping, and
bleeding Crimson and Blue near the University of Kansas. Family genealogist
and research historian. "Character may be manifested in the great moments,
but it is made in
the small ones."
--- Phillip Brooks

*************************

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• [Hofmann] e-Address & e-Inbox virus protection by "Michael G. McManness" <>