After receiving my third message in 36 hrs from a listreader infected with the BadTrans virus, it's time for a public warning. SYMPTOMS: -- Incoming messages have a subject line of "Re:" and nothing else, and no text in the message body -- Incoming messages have no body text, but a familiar subject line taken from a recent list message -- Sender's return address begins with an added underscore, making any response undeliverable Learn about it: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected] The good news is that both "threat containment" and "removal" are rated as "Easy." The bad news is that it's spreading like wildfire through the genealogy lists. PLEASE -- each of you -- update and run your virus checker RIGHT NOW. If you haven't got a virus checker, here's a free one, if you're lucky enough to be able to get through (this company's server has been gridlocked for 24 hrs with panicked users trying to download): www.grisoft.com A third, free alternative is to log on to Trend Micro's House Call site and get an online sweep and disinfection (slow, but works): http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_pcc.asp Outlook Express users are, as always with this wretched piece of software, at the greatest risk, due to the many security holes in Microsoft products. Consider switching to Eudora (www.qualcomm.com), which is free in "sponsored" mode, and a superior product on its own, or to Pegasus, also free (I don't have an address handy, but run a Google search and you'll find it). Unlike Outlook and Outlook Express, neither of these programs can activate an attached virus or worm simply by displaying the email. Yours for safe computing, Chris Christopher Brooks, List Administrator: ==================================== BROOKS-NE (Brooks Families of New England), HAPGOOD, and MERRIAM lists at RootsWeb. ==================================== [email protected]