FORUM POLICY REMINDER:  Test messages, VIRUS WARNINGS, chain letters, 
profanity, insults, political statements, commercial ads, personal 
messages, inappropriate announcements, and other annoying messages are 
off-topic in the SCRoots Forum.  The Forum Policy is posted on the SCRoots 
web site at http://www.scroots.org/ for your ready reference.


For help and information about virus warnings see the Frequently Asked 
Questions (FAQs) section on the SCRoots web site.  Discussion of virus 
issues is OFF-TOPIC in the forum.  For what its worth:

  * The overwhelming majority of virus "warnings" posted to mailing list 
services are flawed, incorrect, outdated, misunderstood, or a hoax.

  * Many virus "detects" from virus checking software are false positives 
(i.e. wrong).

  * Some computer technicians will lie to you.  They may blame some 
mysterious undetected virus rather than admit that the equipment they sold, 
installed, or maintained has failed.  Or, that they can't figure out how to 
solve a problem.

But, its best to be safe rather than sorry. I recommend the following 
standard operating procedures:

1. Always keep a recent backup of your hard disk and CMOS settings in safe 
storage.  Most people do this using a tape backup.  If you can't backup the 
entire hard drive, then at least back up your data files.  If you don't 
know what this means, then you would be wise to learn.

2. Obtain and install a good Anti-Virus Program such as McAfee, Norton 
AntiVirus, etc.  See the FAQs on scroots.org for links to such products.

3. Always run a virus scan on diskettes people give you.  Diskettes can 
spread a virus.

4. Configure your email program so that it doesn't run executable 
attachments automatically.  Configure it to always ask you before running 
executable attachments.  Note that "viewing" an attachment is not the same 
thing as "running" it.  It is possible to view documents for word 
processing programs like MS Word without allowing the macros to execute.

5. Don't run executable files (e.g. *.com, *.exe, macros) downloaded from 
the network or received via email if you aren't very confident of their 
source.  I don't worry much about files that I download directly from major 
software vendors.  I ALWAYS worry about executables that strangers send me 
in email and would not run such from a stranger without a thorough virus 
scan on it first.  I don't worry about non-executable files.  Examples of 
non-executable files include most graphic image formats (e.g. *.BMP, *.JPG, 
*.GIF), ascii text files (e.g. *.TXT, *.ASC), most database files (e.g. 
*.DB, *.DAT), etc.

6. When in doubt, run a virus scan.  Or, delete the file.

If all this seems Greek to you, then just go to any good computer store and 
buy a commercial virus detection program.  Follow the instructions that 
come with that program.  If you have serious questions, call the technical 
support line for your virus detection program vendor.  If they don't have 
technical support, you bought the wrong software - go back to the store and 
buy one that does offer support.

Enough discussion.  This is off-topic, so if anyone wants to know more, do 
some reading on the web or talk to your local computer technician.

Steven J. Coker
Forum Manager

See the following for more information about virus warnings and hoaxes.

http://scroots.org/faq.html
http://ciac.llnl.gov
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter
http://www.mcafee.com/
http://www.urbanlegends.com
http://www.cyberramp.net/hoax.htm