I recommend you not send a note to the group with a warning you received regarding a potential virus. Most often doing that is the problem being created by the warning. In other words, the warning is the problem and sending it to everyone is clogging up the bandwidth.
However, we each need to take the problem of real computer viruses seriously. I am no expert in this matter. But, I do know we each should have a good virus detection and removal program installed on our computers. I use Norton's but there are many others.
Here are some web sites to use if you you want to check out a virus threat to see if it is real. I think we need to just deal with this individually on our own computers. Not only are some of those warning notes hoaxes, some contain instructions that will ruin your computer. Never follow those emailed instructions unless you are absolutely sure they are legit. Never install a patch attached to an email (especially if allegedly from Microsoft) unless you are absolutely sure it is OK. Microsoft never sends out such security patches via email. You can only download them from their site.
Again, I am no expert on these things and have learned the hard way the value of buying the good virus software and using it. I just had it catch one yesterday attached to some spam that got through to my computer. I will religiously continue to get the virus software updates daily and pay for the annual renewal.
Bob Sebo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
To what Kathy said I would simply add...as a rule, don't forward these kinds of mail to the list...just describe them...as Kathy knows, my alert got me into a helluva lot of trouble. Seems lots of folks who got it thought I was trying to rip them off.Bob Sebo----- Original Message -----From: Kathy SeifertTo: Winona OnlineSent: Saturday, October 11, 2003 12:52 PMSubject: Re: [Winona] Fw: Have any of you received this e-mail??Yes, Joann, there are many of these messages that prey on our vulnerabilities. I think it was Bob Sebo who alerted us to another one earlier this year--a fake message from a credit card security person as I recall. It's a good rule of thumb never to provide financial account information to anyone unless you have initiated contact and can verify the source and need for the information.It's been a while since we've discussed any internet hoaxes/scams and I'm wondering if this is something we need to revisit from time to time? Our guidelines are set to limit posts about things like virus warnings so that the moderators can verify the info. before it gets passed to the list. I know that Bob's info. referred to above caused a bit of dismay for some folks, too.As one of the moderators, I wonder if it is important to have the chance to discuss these items as they circulate--especially since our membership will ebb and flow with subscribers who may have not been in on this type of discussion before? Or would members prefer that this type of thing go to the moderators first as well?What do you all think?Kathy Seifert
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Craig
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
