Simon, I beg to differ. At the rate viri are spreading, it is unlikely that we can protect ourselves exclusively through software and any assumption that we can all keep up to date all of the time is niave. I would strongly recommend removing any attachments that get sent to aus-soaring before they get propagated.
To illustrate how far ahead the virus writers are of the antivirus-software updates, the following warning message just arrived in my mailbox from our corporate IT depatment: A new high risk virus called "W32/eder" has been reported. Currently, the Anti-virus software vendors have not released updates for their programs. In the meantime, please do not open any email that arrives with any of the following subject headers. Subject: FW: Security Update by Microsoft. FW: Microsoft security update. FW: IT departments on state of HIGH ALERT. FW: Important news from Microsoft. FW: Stop terrorists computer viruses reign. FW: Terrorists release computer virus. FW: Emergency response from Microsoft Corp. FW: Terrorist Emergency. Latest virus can wipe disk in minutes. FW: Microsoft Update. Final Release Candidate. FW: New computer virus. The text may possibley read as follows... Text: Just recieved this in my email I have contacted Microsoft and they say it's real ! -----Original Message----- From: Microsoft Support Desk [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 17 October 2001 15:21 Subject: Security Update Due to the recent spate of email spread computer viruses Microsoft Corp has released a security patch. Please apply the attached file to your Windows computer to stop any futher spread or these malicious programs. Microsoft Support Attachment Names: msmapiupdate.exe Common.exe Rede.exe Si.exe UserConf.exe disk.exe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon Hackett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2001 10:17 AM Subject: Re: [aus-soaring] Work placement Work placement > > > >SIMON, can you perhaps disable attachments via the list server ? Do we as a > >list really need them ? Most if not all legitimate attachments could be > >hosted on a web site (for those who want to download) or handled by > >individual point-to-point e-mails. > > > > I may be able to, but as always, this will get in the way of some > legitimate reasons to attach attachments as well. > > My personal view is that its much more sensible for everyone to take > steps to protect themselves from the harsh world outside, in this > case with virus scanning software, than it is to rely on a volunteer > list run in spare time to be equipped with magic to do so - > especially when you're far more likely get virus-bourne email from > others as well or at the same time. > > Cheers, > Simon > -- > > --- > Simon Hackett, Technical Director, Internode Systems Pty Ltd > 31 York St [PO Box 284, Rundle Mall], Adelaide, SA 5000 Australia > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.internode.on.net > Phone: +61-8-8223-2999 Fax: +61-8-8223-1777 > > -- > * You are subscribed to the aus-soaring mailing list. > * To Unsubscribe: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * with "unsubscribe aus-soaring" in the body of the message > * or with "help" in the body of the message for more information. > > -- * You are subscribed to the aus-soaring mailing list. * To Unsubscribe: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] * with "unsubscribe aus-soaring" in the body of the message * or with "help" in the body of the message for more information.
