Listmembers: In regards to the recent outbreak of viruses,all that can be done is being done as far as the lists go. Most of us know that some of these ARE coming through the list and not as replies whether or not they are suppose to or not. Actually I think that is a rather moot point right now. The fact is that they are getting out to everyone. I am the listowner for about 17 lists and fortunately it has only affected 4 of them and those only briefly. So far, the procedure I have been applying is working. Here would be my advice regarding any of these postings: 1. Get a good virus scan 2. Anything with a mailing list address that has an attachment, DELETE IT (this means anything with the preface in the subject line of your mailing list's name) 3. Send me the email of the sender, I will unsub them immediately and put out a list message so others won't open anything from that address. 4. After deleting the messages from your list, also DELETE YOUR DELETED ITEMS FOLDER OR TRASH. 5. As an avid researcher myself, I know that sometimes sending files/attachments is a must. Please follow these guidelines to assure the best caution: a) Let persons know in a previous email that you will be sending them an attachment (specify that it will be in the next email, possibly giving them a subject line for it) b) Insist that they do the same. c) Develop a "trusted core" group of persons that you will accept from and make no exceptions. d) Keep in contact with these persons regularly so you will know if they have had any viruses recently. e) Send what you can in text format, not using an attachment. f) With this group of persons that you DO accept attachments from, create a system that would be known between you. For example: something specific in the subject line or maybe, as one man I exchange with does, he places this BEFORE any saluation in the body of the message-- "One(or whatever) attachments included" then he addresses me. This lets me know that if I don't see that in the beginning of the text and there is an attachment...it isn't his. g)Alot of persons I am in constant exchange with, I also talk with on the Instant Messenger. We will tell each other if we are sending them an attachment. h) FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE OR CAN'T GET A VIRUS SCAN.... Yahoo Mail is set up so that it has a McAfee/Norton virus scan on it. It automatically scans any attachment, coming in or going out, BEFORE OPENING. It may be a good idea to set up an account through Yahoo temporarily and use it only for having your attachments sent to. Lastly.... I know it is difficult to see an attachment that might be "the one answer" you are searching for and have to delete it....BUT please stop and think... IS GAINING THAT ONE PIECE OF INFO THAT ATTACHMENT "MIGHT" CONTAIN WORTH LOSING EVERYTHING IN MY SYSTEM. We on the mailing lists must be doubly careful, as we are dealing with MANY unknown persons and also we are connected through the lists to many persons, and we don't want to infect anyone else by opening something that would then be transmitted. Debbie Jennings "Following the footprints through time" Researching in IN,KY,TN,VA,NC,NY,NJ,CAN,ENG,GER,PA,MD http://www.angelfire.com/in3/longagoandfaraway