I apologize for getting off the topic of genealogy with this message,
but the issue of viruses needs to be addressed. This problem does seem
to be slowing down, but all it takes is one person to open an attachment
with a virus for it to get out of hand again.
You cannot get a virus from an email sent from the RootsWeb mailing
lists, as they do not accept attachments. However, this list is set to
reply to the author of the message. So, if a subscriber with an infected
computer receives a message from this list, their computer can generate
an email message with a virus attachment to the subscriber who has just
sent a message to the list. If you receive any emails with virus
attachments just after sending a message to this list, please let me
know. So, that I can unsubscribe the person who sent it to you from the
mailing list.
I am forwarding a message sent to me by Connie Snyder with her
permission regarding these concerns. Please, take the time to read it.
Ruth Hoggatt
Jefferson County Mailing List Administrator
http://www.myindianahome.net/gen/jeff/
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Subject: concerns about computer virus
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 22:54:05 -0500
Hi everyone,
We've been having reports all around the USGenWeb Project of a virus
that's making the rounds. It's getting to be very prolific, so I thought
I would pass along some tips with Bill's permission.
To begin with, if you don't have a good virus scanner on your computer,
get one and make sure you keep it updated with the latest data files. If
you have one and it's not set to keep an eye on your email, make sure
you run it on your computer yourself frequently. On a side note,
regularly back up any files that you feel are important, such as your
genealogy files.
Don't open any attached files that have extensions that you don't
recognize, especially anything that has "PIF", "LNK", "BAT",
"EXE" or
"COM" for the last file extension. You can't tell by the subject line or
the sender as to whether the attached file is a virus or not. I've had
the latest virus sent me several times today, and they all had the .pif
extension.. Some had "script.doc.pif" after the actual file name. The
last three letters after the period of any filename are the actual file
extension and that's what you need to look at before doing anything. If
it's any of the above, delete it, then empty it out of your trash
folder. It it was caught by your virus scanner, empty it's recycle bin.
Make sure that you have it removed from your computer.
If you use any email program that automatically opens all files, make
changes to your settings so that it will not open these attachments.
That way you will be able to see the name of the file and delete if
necessary.
If you have been infected, follow the instructions from your virus
scanner for removing the virus from your computer. Some of the virus
scanner programs have extra instructions that you have to follow in
order to completely rid yourself of the virus. Those might involve
manually deleting files and/or editing your Windows registry, if you
have a PC. Check their website for more information.
You cannot get a virus through a Rootsweb mailing list, since
attachments are not allowed. That means that html messages are not
allowed either, since they come as attachments.
Here is a link to a Rootsweb page that has more information:
http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/announce.html#virus
Three good virus information sites:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html
http://www.cai.com/virusinfo/
http://vil.mcafee.com/
Before passing along a virus warning that you receive, check one of the
above sites to make sure that it is really a virus. There are a lot of
hoaxes going around too. If you find that it's a virus, contact the list
owner before passing along the information.
Info on the latest virus (w32.sircam.worm(a)mm.html):
http://www.cai.com/virusinfo/virusalert.htm#w32.sircam
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.html
Connie Snyder
NEGenWeb Project State Coordinator