Betty, Let me ask you one question. Have you EVER received an email similar to the ones described in these "virus alerts"? Has anyone else on this mailing list received an email like this? I am a computer systems analyst, and I have worked in the computer industry for the past 14 years. I have worked on 12 different operating systems, and on computers all over North America. During my entire computer career, I have never encountered a virus. Now, as amazing as my career sounds <jk>, I have been using electronic mail (email) since 1989. I generally receive at least 150 email messages a day, and out of all of these messages, I have NEVER received an email similar to any of these virus alerts. In order for a virus to destroy information on your hard drive, the virus has to be executed, just like a program. A virus is software code, and software code can not automatically execute - the user has to execute it. So, if you receive an email that is tainted with a virus, UNLESS you open up the attachment that was sent with the email, nothing can happen to you. An email alone can not do anything to your computer. The only way a virus can attack, is if the user opens the attachment, and executes the virus. Therefore, these warnings are unnecessary. Again, if you follow the simple rule of not opening anything from anyone you don't know, you precious data will survive. Thanks, Tony At 06:36 PM 3/18/98 -0500, Bjc1101613 wrote: >Tony, > I admit the "viruses are coming" messages can be annoying, but I'd rather >be alerted of a possible problem rather than be caught unawares. Even though >I use an anti-virus program, the information I store on my hard drive is >important and I take any warning seriously. Personally, I say THANK YOU to >the sender, for alerting me to a possible problem. > For those who find these messages annoying, hit the delete button. >Betty Cowdery >