Hello listmembers! Just wanted to sent a message out to everyone on my various Rootsweb genealogy lists and tell you that you can relax about viruses being transmitted on these lists. Some listowners who don't understand exactly how Rootsweb works have panicked when they have gotten an e-mail with what appears to be (though none of them have opened it) a virus attachment. It is called "pirate.exe", and I'm sure before the ol' clock ticks over on 1 Jan 2000, we will hear of many more. Please don't panic about this. I've heard that there are some listowners who have had lots of "unsub" messages lately... Rootsweb does not allow attachments to go through its lists, and so they are automatically bounced to the listowner (and usually with an attachment on the subject that says {not a subscriber}). All we have to do at that point is delete them. I generally take a look at them, just in case it is someone on the list trying to send a GEDCOM or a picture file, so that I can let them know that this is not possible. Generally, the message is also sent back to the individual who sent it letting them know that they cannot send attachments. So, don't worry about getting a virus from your Rootsweb lists. Just be extra vigilant over the next few weeks (and always, really) to NOT open any attachments (particularly ".exe" and ".zip" ones) that you were not expecting. You almost can't go by the maxim to "not open it unless you know the person", since they are getting sophisticated enough now that worms are being sent back out from infected computers to people in their address books. So it may have a "here's the stuff you wanted" kind of subject and may be from someone you know. As long as you don't open the attachment, it can't hurt you, and you can always just let it sit and pop an e-mail off to the sender asking if they really DID send you something! I've even gotten to the point where I don't open cutesy little "Christmas messages" or "Year 2000" animated gifs because I don't have the time and don't want to risk anything. Silly I suppose, but I have yet to be infected with a virus or worm either! :-) (Now... where's the wood again to knock on?) Hope this has been helpful (though long-winded) and that you all have a wonderful Christmas and a virus-free 2000! Mary Kathryn Rootsweb Listowner -- Mary Kathryn Kozy mkozy@attglobal.net My Home Page: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~marykozy/ South King Co. Gene. Soc. page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~waskcgs/ Dougherty Co., GA USGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~gadoughe/ Monroe Co., GA USGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~gamonroe/ Lawrence Co., IL USGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~illawren/