Dear Sharon and fellow Bird researchers (are we Birders? ;-): Having spent the last seven years dealing with networks and computer security issues, I feel I must comment on your virus warning. There is still no known virus that can be transmitted by simple ascii (character-based) email -- which is what most of use on this list use. However, I must add a caveat: viruses can be attached to uuencoded files and MIME encoded files. In other words if you receive an email which has an attached file (especially MS Word .doc files and Excel .xls files, or any file that is obviously executable code) you should consider scanning with a antivirus software before viewing or opening it. However, you can receive a file with a macro virus in it, save it to your hard disk, and it cannot do any damage until you view or execute it. Older style "boot sector viruses" such as the famous Michelangelo virus can be transmitted by email, but they can't launch themselves from email. So the moral of this is, be careful of attachments but don't worry about plain text email messages. The irony of all this is that I've spent much more time trying to educate people about viruses than actually having to fix virus infected PCs and Macs. Viruses have cost more money in wasted computer professional's time than in lost data (in my estimation). And although software such as McAffee and Dr. Solomons are very good to have, and are extremely effective in removing viruses (if you keep current with the updates), I'm afraid most virus scares on the Internet only benefit those corporations' bottom line. Very soon, with Java and ActiveX applications you will be able to unintentionally receive viruses or other harmful code through your web browser (indeed there are sites on the Net with demonstrations of this technology). But simple ascii email will always be safe. best regards, --Wulf aka: Wulf Gardner Losee [email protected] wrote: > Hello everyone, > > Right now there are alot of virus' messages floating around the > Internet. I > know what virus' can do, years ago I had one destroy my computer. > Since > then, of course I use a virus protection progam and one even for the > web. > Some of the virus' that I know by name, I know what they are, hoaxes. > > However, according to a message picked up this morning in Listowners > list, > it says there is a new one out, apparently to attack AOL subscribers. > Since > the new software AOL is using, any message over 2 k is automatically > turned > into an attachment (which I will say I do not like). According to > message > when it is downloaded it affects your computer, can pull your password > and > screen names. The message continued to say that AOL is working very > hard at > trying to eliminate it and to block it from becoming an attachment to > messages. Now, I have not heard any thing from AOL, of which I am a > member > of course, that is warning any one signing on that there is a virus > somewhere > there. I sent a message this morning to AOL and asked them about it. > We all > know stories can start very fast about a new virus. I will let you > know what > I find out. Mean while, any of you that are concerned about virus' or > what > to know the latest on virus' here are two sites to check out. > > http:www.mcafee.com/ > > this is first page, for more detailed info go to > http://www.mcafee.com/support/techdocs/vinfo/fact6.html. Here you can > read > about every virus known, including PenPal. > > Another good site is http://ciac.llnl.gov/ again first page. For > more > detail go to http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html > > Hope this is of some help. > > Sharon Straight > [email protected] > List Owner > DRUMM. ALLEN-NEW-ENGLAND/NY/NJ/PA, BUCKLEY, STRAIGHT, BIRD > "Remember The Maiser - Shoot A Spammer" > (Created by Kathryn Graham - "Kathie") > > http://members.aol.com/sjworkman/index.html > http://members.aol.com/sjstraight/index.html > http://members.aol.com/ssharmans/index.html