Resources for Virus Information - Steve Coker
Subject: Resources for Virus Information
From: Steve Coker
Date: March 08, 2001


Since many newcomers need to know more, here is an Official Off-Topic 
message with some pointers on where to get more information.

First of all, you CAN get a computer virus by opening an attachment to an 
email message.

Attachments that can contain malicious computer instructions (e.g. virus, 
worm, trojan horse, etc.) include files such as MS Word documents (*.doc or 
*.dot), MS Excel files (*.xl?), Visual Basic files (*.vb?), and any 
executable program (e.g. *.exe, *.com, *.bat).

Filename extensions are the characters after the last period in a filename 
(e.g. *.doc, *.exe, *.vbs, etc.).  If your computer doesn't show you the 
FULL file extensions for ALL filenames, then don't open any attachment 
without first verifying that it is safe.  To be sure what type of files you 
are opening, always check the full filename extensions before opening the 
file.

You should also learn what types of files do not contain executable 
instructions and are safe to open.  When in doubt, don't open it.

In Windows 98 you can turn on or off filename extension display with the 
VIEW menu "Folder Options" in either Control Panel or Windows Explorer.

For more virus and hoax information see the following sites.

https://support.rootsweb.com/announce.html
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/tools.list.html
http://www.mcafee.com/anti-virus/
http://www.ciac.org/ciac/
http://www.datafellows.com/virus-info/virus-news/
http://www.antivirus.com/
http://housecall.antivirus.com/
http://www.email-software.com/
http://camalott.com/virus.html
http://securityportal.com/research/virus/virustop20.html
http://www.help.com/

http://www.hoaxkill.com/
http://www.urbanlegends.com
http://www.mcafee.com/support/hoax.asp
http://www.datafellows.com/news/hoax.htm

  * * * * *

Steve Coker
SCRoots Forum Manager


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