Dilwyn Jones writes:HTML can execute scripts which can, in turn run code to install a virus. It is well documented. This is why Tony and I prefer to use Turnpike which does not display HTML unless you force it to. One retro throwback tendency of mine, dating from the BBS and early 14400 baud modem days is to regard HTML and rich text emails as pointless and bandwidth wasting.
2. If using Outlook Express, make sure that the preview pane is closed, as these worms install themselves even if you only preview the message.
This may belong to the category "Famous Last Words", however I believe the above statement to be a myth. Unless a virus can somehow jump the species barrier and install itself via html, there is no way just pre-viewing a mail can infect your machine. Send me one to try!
In most cases virus activity is self inflicted by opening files or clicking on links without apply a thought process. The same effect can be achieved even with an antivirus program but I still prefer to have one.
You may now consider me a dangerous acquaintance, but I must admit to habitual unprotected intercourse with the internet. In the eight/nine years that Ive had a Windoze PC Ive never used any kind of anti-virus program apart from my own wits (except occasionally the free F-Prot to see if some elusive computer problem could, after all, be caused by a virus). During this time Ive had two viruses. On the first occasion I learnt my lesson, and on the other, someone other than me learnt the same lesson at my expense. In both cases the problem was discovered PDQ and resolved without calamity.
Other people may differ. There are some virus/trojan/worms that log keystrokes and send them out to god knows who. (Read some of the virus explanations on the Norton website and other places). It is hard to tell if bank passwords or whatever have been gained and used illegally in this way but best to be wary.While I dont deny that viruses (and other cyber lifeforms) do an awful lot of damage, my own experience tells me they are vastly overrated.
A common fault with most peoples reasoning. M$ gets virus attacks therefore M$ is badly written. You are right of course that most people use Lookout Express and many of these get attacked but other mail clients suffer and some of these supposed holes are actually built in hooks for usability which are exploited by people who are intent to harm. Active scripting and install on demand could be wonderful things if they were not used by virus writers as backdoors. However, by your analogy LINUX should be riddled with virus and other activity because it is also distributed free.
The reason that poor Lookout is so prone is not because it is such a /bad/ program, but because it is one of, if not the most widely used stand-alone email client. (And the reason it is so popular is not because it is such a /good/ program, but because it is distributed for "free" with every copy of Windoze, one of the downsides Roy forgot to discuss in his euology of all-inclusive operating systems)
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Roy Wood
Q Branch. 20 Locks Hill, Portslade, Sussex.
Tel: +44 (0) 1273 386030 fax: +44 (0) 1273 430501
web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk
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