Beginning March 2nd, 2020 the Mailing Lists functionality on RootsWeb will be discontinued. Users will no longer be able to send outgoing emails or accept incoming emails. Additionally, administration tools will no longer be available to list administrators and mailing lists will be put into an archival state.
Administrators may save the emails in their list prior to March 2nd. After that, mailing list archives will remain available and searchable on RootsWeb
Hi Everyone,
"Tis the season" has many meanings...when using the Internet, it also
means..."Tis the season to be inundated with the clueless." :-) It is that
time of year once again...when suddenly there is an influx of new online
genealogy enthusiasts with their Christmas gift, first computer...that is
usually newer and faster than what most of the rest of us already have and
they will be hopping right online. Many of these people are new to
computers, genealogy, and the Internet. For a great many of these
"newbies"...it will be their first time online.
As you become more expert, be patient as others first learn to paddle, then
swim, and then surf the Mailing List. Please be extra patient with all
"newbies" to the maillist. Also, avoid jargon, because the "newbies" need
to understand your messages too. Remember that we all started out on the
Internet with little knowledge of how things worked. Please take this into
consideration in advance and be helpful to these "newbies." Be an active
participant in teaching them. Sometimes people just need for someone to
take them under their wing and help them learn. If you aren't able to
help...please remember...that is what the delete key is for. Of course
there will be errors. People are only human! Everyone was new
once...nobody is born knowing everything. If someone has enough enthusiasm
to post a message in the first place, then they can learn...and be taught.
Gently...the way friends are made. I don't want anyone to have hurt
feelings. Most people quickly learn but there will be a few that won't,
just like anything else. Everyone has to start somewhere! :-)
If things get out of hand, please let me know but also remember that I am
behind the scenes taking care of the problems. Just remember, one of these
new subscribers might hold the clue you have been searching for! Let us not
discourage them before they have a chance to learn how genealogy, computers,
Mailing Lists, Message Boards, and the Internet work.
I would like also to take this time to wish each of you and yours a blessed
Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Happy Holidays! :-) Thanks, Mike
*************************
Michael G. McManness, a Jayhawk through and through, eating, sleeping,
breathing, and bleeding Crimson and Blue near the University of Kansas.
Family genealogist and research historian. "Character may be manifested in
the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." --- Phillip Brooks
*************************
Hi Everyone,
In view of the serious outbreak of BadTrans.B, please give this post your
utmost attention! Killing BadTrans.B is urgent business. Thanks for your
help! I have gotten e-mail indicating that people do *not* understand this
virus that has a very high penetration rate and is successful in the
payload. The Bad Trans virus ran rampant through the maillist subscribers.
The virus is undetectable in some instances because it is embedded in HTML.
According to virus experts, more devious ways of hiding the virus in email
messages will take place in the future. Please take a few minutes to
educate yourself, you *will* be glad you did.
Beware Badtrans.B
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2825280,00.html
Question...... but is it really necessary to unsub a virus infected person
from our maillist? After all, the virus messages aren't coming through our
lists, but are being sent to individual members who probably posted to the
list(s) at some time back in the past. So, isn't unsubbing them sort of a
"moot" point? Hasn't the "damage" already been done?
Answer...... Let me answer your basic question and add a bit of historic
perspective, since after all, genealogy is a branch of history.
RootsWeb servers are Unix based and can *NOT* pass the virus. It is
impossible! You can *NOT* get a virus from a RootsWeb mailing list but you
*CAN* get the virus from a RootsWeb mailing list *SUBSCRIBER* by posting to
the mailing list. This is confusing. The subscriber's computer, in some
circumstances, then takes your message from it's inbox or your e-mail
address from their address book and passes the virus to you. I hope I have
made this issue clearer for you. It is very confusing until you understand
the ins & outs, contributing circumstances and how everything works.
Unsubbing an infected subscriber has a limited use, but that use *can* be
important. I do it when the infection is by a worm that replies to real
messages, such as the latest bug, BadTrans.B. By unsubscribing the infected
address, one at least prevents *new* messages from the list going to the
infected computer, and creating even *more* infected replies. You correctly
stated, replies created by BadTrans do *NOT* go *through* the list. Yet they
give the appearance to the unwary that they have.
In any event, unsubbing the infected computer protects people who send
messages through the list from *some* off-list problems.
It all depends on which virus the person is infected with. Most virii it
wouldn't make any difference. However, BadTrans (both the original and the
B version) send themselves out to posters on a list, if there are any
infected subscribers on the list, making it appear that the virus is coming
from the list or even from a board if the list is gatewayed to a board.
Therefore,
I strongly recommend unsubbing people who are reported as being infected
with this virus and notifying them that they need to clean their machines
before resubbing. Point them to some useful URLs to get updated AV software
or information. The removal procedure protects subscribers computers.
In my opinion, if a list admin unsubs someone for this reason, he or she
takes on a certain responsibility to follow up with an offer of help (if
only to point to useful sources of information). One also needs to make sure
that the victim doesn't end up in Reject File forever, for a problem that
has been cleaned up.
Last spring, around April, Badtrans Senior was released and due to the
characteristics of that particular virus's behavior it spread like wildfire
through the list subscribers. Some lists reported 25% of the subscribers
were infected.
None of us like to unsub people but it was literally at the point on many
lists that unsubbing was the only way to stop the virus from spreading to
everyone. From a subscribers point of view, they would post to a list and
get one or more well disguised viruses in return. Needless to say, posts to
the lists were greatly reduced. And there were numerous rumors that the
virus was being spread through Rootsweb (not true but appeared true to
subscribers).
It's probably fair to say that a few list owners unsub for just a run of the
mill virus. Its probably also fair to say that Badtrans affects lists very
adversely and those of us that were around last spring, have absolutely no
desire to repeat that experience in any way, shape or form.
* Avoiding virus infections: Viruses and other malicious software, like
worms and Trojan horses, are an unfortunate fact of online life, and there's
no sign that they're going away. But you can avoid becoming a victim by
keeping a few safety tips in mind:
- Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your
computer. Check the Web site of your software manufacturer for any software
updates. Some anti-virus programs can be configured to check for updates
automatically.
- Treat all email attachments with extreme caution, even if they appear to
be sent from people you trust. Some worms
email themselves using their victim's address book, so that even people you
trust may unknowingly email infected files
to you.
- Keep up with virus news. Learn about the latest threats by periodically
visiting sites like Symantec Security Response
at http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/
* "Badtrans" worm infects computers: Experts are warning Windows users to
beware of an Internet worm that can record
and transmit its victims' keystrokes, potentially exposing private
information like passwords and credit card numbers.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/11/26/badtrans.worm/
Get the technical details about the "Badtrans" worm at
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.badtrans.b@mm.html
For those who are struggling in the BadTrans virus arena, there is a FREE
FIX from Symantec... the [VIRUS] W32.Badtrans.B@mm Removal Tool!
Download the FixBadtr.exe file from:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/FixBadtr.exe
for more info read:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.badtrans.b@mm.re
moval.tool.html
{ make sure to use the entire wrapped line }
There are several free trial versions available for the removal of the
"Badtrans.B" virus that are being discussed and evaluated on the Virus
Discussion List (see below). So please post your virus concerns to the
Virus Discussion List and get those infected computers cleaned up!!
Rootsweb has a virus discussion list to help people learn about virii and
how to best protect your computer. The virus discussion list will assist
those that have been infected or have seen unusual issues and think they may
be infected with the "Badtrans.B" virus or one of its variants. If you need
help or want to ask questions regarding the virus that is driving us all
crazy, please click on the link below and subscribe to this list for help.
If you wish to participate, just send the word "subscribe" to one of the
following e-mail addresses:
VIRUS-DISCUSSION-L-request(a)rootsweb.com (single message mode)
VIRUS-DISCUSSION-D-request(a)rootsweb.com (digest mode)
It's quite good -- and quite busy right now. Thanks again for your help! I
hope this information helps. If you have problems or further questions
please let me know. Let's get back to genealogy now. :-) Thanks, Mike
*************************
Michael G. McManness, a Jayhawk through and through, eating, sleeping,
breathing, and bleeding Crimson and Blue near the University of Kansas.
Family genealogist and research historian. "Character may be manifested in
the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." --- Phillip Brooks
*************************
Hi Everyone,
Yes, after a week, we do seem to be on the downside. (Knocking on wood) The
statistics from MessageLabs also seem to support this idea.
http://www.messagelabs.com/viruseye/report.asp?id=86
I've only had two today. I hope the worst is over. I was beginning to
dread downloading my mail!
I hope this information helps. If you have problems or further questions
please let me know. :-) Thanks, Mike
*************************
Michael G. McManness, a Jayhawk through and through, eating, sleeping,
breathing, and bleeding Crimson and Blue near the University of Kansas.
Family genealogist and research historian. "Character may be manifested in
the great moments, but it is made in
the small ones." --- Phillip Brooks
*************************
Hi Everyone,
*Please note--many user(a)home.com subscribers' mail is bouncing due to the
cutoff of @home.com. If you switch to another ISP, you will need to
subscribe under that email address in order to get your mail from this
maillist.
I hope this information helps. If you have problems or further questions
please let me know. :-) Thanks, Mike
*************************
Michael G. McManness, a Jayhawk through and through, eating, sleeping,
breathing, and bleeding Crimson and Blue near the University of Kansas.
Family genealogist and research historian. "Character may be manifested in
the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." --- Phillip Brooks
*************************
Hi Everyone,
Thought this might be of interest and wanted to share it with you.
*Note--Add Attachments: Using the new, wonderful image attachment on the
Message Boards http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=main&r=rw, scanned
images or documents, etc., may be attached to message posts. You may only
upload GEDCOM files or graphics files. Graphics files will be converted to
.JPG or .GIF upon upload. Other file types are not accepted.
SHOTS IN THE DARK
==================
Dorothy Paul <Dorothy.M.Paul.1(a)nd.edu> writes: Seems that we all have
some, or many, family photos that we inherit that are unlabeled. Using
the new, wonderful image attachment on the Message Boards
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=main&r=rw
I would like to post unlabeled photos, circa 1900 from my Grandma
Paul's album to the county board where she grew up. I am hoping that
houses in the photos may be in other photos that folks in the area
have identified as they are rather distinctive. However, the subject
of unlabeled photos is being addressed piece-meal by county sites and
genealogical society sites. It would be nice to have some organized
way to approach the matter.
[Great idea. Post pictures under QUERY on surname and/or locality
Message Boards since the purpose is to ask others to look at the photos
and see if they can match to anything in their own collections.]
I hope this information helps. If you have problems or further questions
please let me know. :-) Thanks, Mike
*************************
Michael G. McManness, a Jayhawk through and through, eating, sleeping,
breathing, and bleeding Crimson and Blue near the University of Kansas.
Family genealogist and research historian. "Character may be manifested in
the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." --- Phillip Brooks
*************************