Phyllis and All: Here we go again <groan>. The virus Phyllis refers to is a variation on the W32 virus we had so much trouble with back in the spring. It's a "newbie" that popped up 16 or 17 July. Virus software programs have the necessary protection in place. You just have to be sure it's in *your* system. 1. You cannot get it unless you open an attachment. DO NOT OPEN ATTACHMENTS - period!!!!!! 2. You cannot get it thru Rootsweb. They have state-of-the-art virus protection software in place to keep list members virus free. 3. If someone who is on a rootsweb email list contracts the virus, the virus promptly attaches itself to every address in his/her address book and sends itself via email to all the addresses in that address book. These are the tried and true methods by which you can protect yourself as well as every one in your address book. 1. Immediately upon receipt, delete every email with an attachment. (I don't care if it's from your bestest friend or your mother or your boss. Delete it. You can explain later.) 2. Delete every email in your "delete" folder. (Yes, double delete every one of them. This removes them from those hidey-holes your system contains to allow your to retrieve "lost" items.) 3. Reboot your computer. 4. Run your virus scan program to determine whether or not you are infected. 5. If you find you are infected, follow the directions your virus program provides to purge your system. 6. Make a practice of downloading *at least once a week* the latest dat. files from your virus protection program. 7. In the future, check with whoever *appears* to have sent an attachment to you BEFORE you open it. Hope this is helpful to all of you. None of us wants to again go thru the 6-week horror of last spring so, please, please do the things suggested above immediately. Mysty shakerag@mtnhome.com ***************************************** ----- Original Message ----- From: Phyllis Campbell <belann@wirefire.com> To: <AFHA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2001 3:49 PM Subject: [AFHA] Dear Cousins and List Members > Dear Cousins and List Members, > > I have returned from a 5 day trip and found many emails that contain virus infected attachments in them. These all have in some way, some connection to the many genealogy lists that I am on. They are not coming through the lists but will have something in the email that refers to the list and that would make it seem safe to open and also tempting to open because we all want even that little scrap of information. One had Nancy Trice's name on it, two attachments had a connection to Doug Leonard who has done much research and posted it on the web and the other had an email address and the name of one of my cousins who does not have this address anymore and hasn't had for some time. One was from a Barbara Whisenant and this one also had the Doug Leonard attachment. > > The point I am trying to make is that whoever is doing this is watching these genealogy lists and getting this information. How else would anyone know my connections to these 3 people? > > I am no longer opening anything that is sent to me like this. If you want to contact me you will have to do it through the list. I am more than happy to share my information BUT I am not chancing these virus infected attachments. > > This was written in all the infected emails. You cannot get the virus through the emails, only if you open the attachments. > > > > Hi! How are you? > > > > I send you this file in order to have your advice > > > > See you later. Thanks > > (There is a different name signed on each email.) > > Phyllis Maulding Campbell