On Wed, 30 Jan 2002 15:51:33 -0000 Ben A L Jemmett
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>> Windows mailer programs don't decode
>> and run inserted UUENCODED programs automatically, do they?

> They decode them, yes.

>> Doesn't a
>> Windows user have to resort to a multi-step process to decode and run
>> an inserted UUENCODED program?

>> I know that some Windows email clients
>> can decode and run MIME attachments automatically, but what about
>> inserted UUENCODED attachments?

> Handled by Outlook, Outlook Express (plus Pegasus, Netscape and Eudora at
> least IIRC) in exactly the same way as any other attachment,.  It shows up
> as an icon to be clicked.

>> Furthermore, I cannot understand why any computer user would be so
>> stupid as to use any email client program that is provided with a
>> "feature" to decode and open any executable attachments automatically.

> What on earth are you on about?  You'd rather everyone used an e-mail client
> that didn't decode attachments at all, forcing you to copy the relevant
> section out of the message and run it through a relevant decoder?

It is OK for an email client program to merely decode attachments
automatically, but to be able to run an executable email attachment
simply by clicking on its ikon ought not to be allowed.  The use of
an email client program that misbehaves in this manner should be
outlawed because such programs propagate the spread of viruses all over
the internet.

> Who said
> anything about this thing opening automatically, anyway?  It's an executable
> file, attached to the message; since it starts www and ends .com, most idiot
> users will think it's a link to a web site, and will click on it.  And what
> does Windows do when you click on an executable?

How can even an idiot user mistake an executable file for a hyperlink
to a web site?  Oh well, I don't suppose we should ever underestimate
the profundity of idiocy.

Regards,

Sam Heywood
-- This mail was written by user of The Arachne Browser - http://arachne.cz/

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