To potential virus victims: The only practical way to solve this problem is to install a good program such as Norton AntiVirus 2000 with automatic scanning of email as it downloads. Norton stopped two KakWorms for me in July before they could infect my computer. Also three viruses of other types this year. I had never had a virus attack in the previous 3 years, so either I was lucky or they seem to be increasing or both. I also subscribe to the VIRUS-DISCUSSION-L and have read reports of damage from these email worms ranging from very minor to damage which required re-formatting of the hard drive with loss of all data. Many people try to economize by not installing good antivirus protection and risk not only a big investment they have already made, but repairs which could cost far more than antivirus protection if it has to go to a computer shop. If you or a friend can do it, then it can still cost a lot of time. Some have reported damage to computer hardware although I do not understand how that would happen unless the virus can cycle some part fast and long enough to cause heat damage. I urged one lady recently to stay off the internet until she had installed an antivirus program. She said she would take her chances. She picked up a virus about a week later which sent her computer to a shop. That shop charges more just for their diagnoses (repairs additional) than my Norton cost me. I very strongly urge all who use the internet to economize in some other place, if necessary, and spend the modest amount of money necessary to buy a good antivirus program such as Norton and the use their free service to download updates every week. Protect the investment you have made in money and effort to accumulate your computer and data!!!!! Clark Rogers .................................... Ann Moore wrote: > > Someone named DON KURTZ keeps sending me a virus KakWorm. I don't know any > Don Kurtz. If he is on this list, don't open any mail from Don Kurtz. Ann > Moore > Ann Moore > (_E=mc2_) :-) 8 > > ==== SW_VA Mailing List ==== > #7 Please email your congressman to oppose any internet taxes. > > ============================== > Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: > Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. > http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/

The security of our valuable genealogy records are at stake. We all need to do what ever we can to prevent the spread of these viruses. Clark Rogers was right on the button in his advice. I would like to mention, discourage your friends and relatives from sending those attached "good humor, angels, and virtual greetings" which are "mass" mailed to all "addressees" on their "list". Patched from Symantec Anti Virus Research Center: http://www.sarc.com/ for more virus information Wscript.KakWorm VBS.KakWorm spreads using Microsoft Outlook Express. It attaches itself to all outgoing messages via the Signature feature of Outlook Express and Internet Explorer newsgroup reader. The worm utilizes a known Microsoft Outlook Express security hole so that a viral file is created on the system without having to run any attachment. Simply reading the received email message will cause the virus to be placed on the system. Microsoft has patched this security hole. The patch is available from Microsoft's WEB site. If you have a patched version of Outlook Express, this worm will not work automatically. Robert Crabtree

I DO NOT OPEN any Attachments which do not have a related message in the body of the E-mail.. signed by the sender! I think everyone sending an attachment should have the courtesy to write a short note telling the receiver what it contains.. Maybe I miss some information, but that's my rule... G. Lee Hearl Authentic Appalachian Storyteller Abingdon, Va..