In order to attempt to cut down on the number of unnecessary emails on the various Lists I manage, I am forwarding a URL that will take you to a page at Rootsweb, where you can read about the "new" virus. From the Rootsweb page, you can link to Anti-Virus services of your choice to read the details. As usual, NO VIRUS WARNINGS ALLOWED ON THESE MAILING LISTS, unless posted by the Listowner. If you need to discuss this, please reply to my personal email address: Here is the COMPLETE "low-down" on the virus: IMPORTANT NOTICE: It has been learned that an email worm has been found circulating the web, one that arrives in an email purportedly from MessageMates.com. This worm file is in no way connected with MessageMates.com. If you have received an email with a message that reads: "he, your lame client cant read HTML, haha. click attachment to see some stunningly HOT stuff" or "http://stuart.messagemates.com/index.html Hypercool Happy Year 2000 funny programs and animations. We attached our recent animation from this site in our mail! Check it out!" Then you have been passed the Worm in question. It is a worm that was created and set loose by someone who is trying to spoil all of our Holiday fun. Do NOT run the attachment included in the email and please delete the email message immediately! That means, do NOT click on the attachment to see what it is!!!!! Also, navigate to the directory where attachments to your email are deposited, and delete the .exe file immediately. What is known about this Worm so far: 1. This worm has been named: W32.NewApt.Worm. 2. Once opened/launched, the worm will reply to a message residing in your In Mailbox, and will attach itself to this reply. 3. The file being passed as an attachment is approximately 68K. 4. The subject line of this message will vary, according to the subject of the email that it attaches to, and the From: address will be an email address from one of the emails sitting in your In-Box. 5. The attachment is no way related to any MessageMates.com products. What you can do: 1. Read the details of this worm virus by checking with McAfee at: http://www.mcafee.com/centers/anti-virus/default2.asp, or by checking with Symantec at: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html 2. If you receive a suspect email, with an .exe attachment, from someone, first email them back and confirm that they intended to send you a MessageMate. What we can tell you about MessageMates.com: 1. MessageMate's millions of loyal users are their number one priority and they are fully committed to providing software programs that are safe and fun. 2. MessageMate never sends out any unsolicited emails. 3. MessageMate never sends out attachments. 4. MessageMate's files are 100% safe when downloaded directly from their web site. *********************** NOTE FROM MESSAGEMATES: Please know that we at MessageMates.com have worked tirelessly to earn your trust and respect. We take great pride in our products and only want our users to have a positive and entertaining experience with them. Thank you for taking the time to read this very important notice. If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to: cheitmann@adtoolsinc.com Chris Heitmann Chief Operating Officer Carole Rohrings rohrbach@jnb.com ************************** Thanks, George W. Durman mailto:sgtgeorg@concentric.net ************************* List Administrator for the Following Surnames: ************************* BRILES BRILL BROYLES CULLOP DEARMAN DORMAN DURMAN GAROUTTE LOVETT LOVETTE WILHITE WILHOIT WILKINSON ************************* List Administrator for Related Lists: ************************* GERMANNA_COLONIES SURNAME-QUERY CFT-WIN ************************* BROYLES Newsgroup Moderator (alt.family-names.broyles) CULLOP Newsgroup Moderator (alt.family-names.cullop) DURMAN Newsgroup Moderator (alt.family-names.durman) WILHITE Newsgroup Moderator (alt.family-names.wilhite) ************************* BROYLES/BRILES Family History Web Page & GERMANNA Information: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~george/index.html