Reminder: Off Topic Messages - Steven J. Coker
Subject: Reminder: Off Topic Messages
From: Steven J. Coker
Date: March 20, 1999

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are flawed, incorrect, outdated, misunderstood, or a hoax.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 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. 

For information about the HAPPY99.EXE worm see:
http://www.liszt.com/read/SCRoots-L/[email protected]

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

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