Re: UKNM: The final word from the horse's mouth [Fwd: FW: Virus Warning]

[Paul Cook]

This seems to go on and on! I was searching for Virus software on Infoseek

the other day and I noticed one of the leading vendors saying the first one

had been discovered.


I think Mail in Explorer 4 can include Java and  if so you could transmit a

virus this way (or would it be a trojan). The more helpful the mail

application the less helpful for protecting your PC.


Paul


Duncan Macmillan wrote:


> [Moderator's Note: This was forwarded by Duncan, from Ray Bellis]

>

>

From: Ray Bellis <rpbcommunity [dot] net [dot] uk>

>

Reply-To: Ray Bellis <rpbcommunity [dot] net [dot] uk>

>

To: Jan Mckenty <janiconsoft [dot] co [dot] uk>

> Subject: Re: FW: Virus Warning

>

> On Thu, 19 Mar 1998, Jan Mckenty wrote:

>

> > You might like to forward this to your people.

>

> Please *ignore* any such 'warning' messages of this nature, they are

> hoaxes :-(

>

> The only way for an e-mail message to infect your system is if you

> actually open an included attachment after receiving it.  Simply opening

> the body of the message inside your mail program is *not* sufficient to

> trigger any virus contained inside an attachment.

>

> A '.exe' attachment might contain a traditional virus and a '.doc' file

> might contain a 'macro-virus'.  If your system does try to automatically

> display '.doc' attachments then it might be prudent to disable that

> facility, but in any case the standard recommendation would be to install

>

> good anti-virus software on your PC in order to protect against infection

> whatever the source.

>

> NB:  Technically, a program which immediately deletes your hard drive is

> actually a 'trojan horse' and not a 'virus', since if it destroys your

> system it can't possibly spread.

>

> Of course it could be argued that the current 'warnings' are themselves

> viral in nature, since they appear to be more virulent in the way they

> spread from one person to the next than any known 'real' virus.

>

> Ray.

>

> --

> Ray Bellis, MA(Oxon) - Technical Manager - Oxford CommUnity Internet plc

> Windsor House, 12 High Street, Kidlington, OXFORD OX5 2PJ   UK

>       Telephone: +44-1865-856000  Fax: +44-1865-856001

>

Email: ray [dot] belliscommunity [dot] net [dot] uk URL: http://www.community.co.uk/