[or-roots] Virus/Spam Flood

[Ray Powell]

MessageAnd NEVER, NEVER believe the myth that you are protected 100%! I too use Norton and keep it updated but even Norton and McAfee have their shortfalls. Not their fault, they just can't stay ahead because they are always responding to what is already out there.

Ray Powell
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kith-n-Kin 
  To: or-roots at sosinet.sos.state.or.us 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 12:11 PM
  Subject: RE: [or-roots] Virus/Spam Flood


  Dear Cousins - those I know, and those I just haven't met yet:

  Let me comment. My computer is protected within an inch of its life, and yet in the past week, several items of concern have happened:

  (1) I received an e-mail from myself to myself advertising products I (thank you) don't need. At the same time, I was advised through "returned" e-mails that at least two other people to whom I had "sent" the e-mail didn't exist. Makes you wonder who did get them, doesn't it?

  (2) My husband received an e-mail addressed specifically to him, from a specific friend, with no subject and an attachment of "fotos" -- a zip file.  Oops, this was a virus attachment. Didn't open it up, as my 'puter stopped it in its tracks.  I got probably 12 "notices" of malicious code being stopped by my Norton.

  There are programs that "phish" for addresses - our roots list-servs seem to be a good trolling ground.  

  My advice is: If you receive a zip, exe, or bat file, or some music files, from anyone as an attachment, FIRST e-mail the person and ask if s/he sent it.

  Then, when you send e-mail, jokes, political statements, to your friends, *blind copy* everyone. DON'T put anyone's address in the To or Cc boxes.  If, by chance you are on Juno or another ISP that doesn't allow Bcc, either send separate e-mails to each recipient, or get another provider.

  Get yourself a "spy catcher" -- I have both Spy Sweeper (courtesy of my ISP, AT&T) and Spy Bot (a download, requests donation, I think).  You will be amazed how much "stuff" is on your drive, just from doing simple surfing on the net.

  I am positive that somewhere there are people, like yourselves, who are wondering who I am, and why I sent them that ugly spam -- honest, twasn't me, folks.  Matter of fact, if you haven't had one or more of your e-dentities stolen and forged, it probably only means you haven't been around long enough.

  Well, that's all. I just suggest that you do what you can, don't have "unprotected internetting" and don't get too concerned about all those fingers pointing your way.

  Regards,

  Pat (in Tucson)
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