Hi Everyone, My computer picked up a virus somehow quite awhile back even though I was running anti-virus software and it wasn't any fun. Recently we have seen a rash of new viruses that are spreading like wild fire. I wanted to let you know about a computer trick that is really ingenious in its simplicity. As you may know, when or if a virus gets into your computer it can head straight for your e-mail Addresses or e-mail Inbox and send itself to everyone in there, thus infecting all your friends and associates. You see, that is how these viruses are spread. No one wants to admit that they are infected. And if you do *not* have virus software running on your system, that is being updated regularly (this cannot be stressed enough), then you could be infected and not realize it. There are two major commercial virus protection software McAfee http://www.mcafee.com and Norton Antivirus http://www.symantec.com, there is a site with a free virus scan option that will at least let you know if you have picked up any nasty gremlins that you are unaware of. So, take a moment to visit Trend Micro's HouseCall http://housecall.antivirus.com/ and run the free scanner. Not only will Trend Micro's HouseCall tell you if you are infected it will deal with any discovered viruses. This service is very easy to use and worthwhile because it puts your mind at ease. There is no substitute for good anti-virus software updated regularly! This trick will *not* keep the virus from getting into your computer, but it will stop it from using your Addresses to spread further, and it will *Alert* you to the fact that the virus has gotten into your system. Follow the instructions below: QUICK INSTRUCTIONS 1. Open your Addresses and click on New Contact just as you would do if you were adding a new friend or associate to your list of e-mail Addresses. In the box where you would type your friend's first name, type in !000, that's an exclamation mark followed by 3 zeros. In the box below where it prompts you to enter the new e-mail address, type in e-AddressAlert. If it tells you this is not a valid address just say yes to add it, or ok. Then complete everything by clicking add, enter, ok, etc. Here's what you've done and why it works: The Contact !000 will be placed at the top of your Addresses as entry #1. This will be where the virus will start in an effort to send itself to all your friends and associates. But when it tries to send itself to !000, it will be undeliverable because of the phony e-mail address you entered, e-AddressAlert. If the first attempt fails, which it will because of the phony address, the virus goes no further and your friends and associates will not be infected. 2. Open a New Mail e-mail message. Address the New Mail e-mail message to yourself by putting your e-mail address in the To: JohnDoe@anyone.com box. In the Subject box below add - Subject: e-InboxAlert Below in the body of the message copy and paste this message for reference. I suggest that you save this message in your Drafts folder so that you always have a copy should you mistakenly delete it. Next complete this protection by copying and pasting to make a valid copy of your Draft Message or an *actual message* and send it to yourself. *Leave* the message at the top of your inbox so that it is the first message that the virus sends itself to. Here's what you've done and why it works: Your e-InboxAlert e-mail message remains at the top of your inbox. This will be where the virus will start in an effort to send itself to all your Inbox e-mail. When it sends itself to you first, you will be alerted by another e-mail message with the subject title e-InboxAlert. It will then be necessary to clean your computer with your anti-virus software. If you are like me and uneasy about viruses put your mind at ease by following-up with a double check by another anti-virus protection. Take a moment to visit Trend Micro's HouseCall http://housecall.antivirus.com/ and run the free scanner. Not only will Trend Micro's HouseCall tell you if you are infected it will deal with any discovered viruses. This service is very easy to use and worthwhile. The *advantage* of these methods: if an e-mail cannot be delivered from your Addresses you will get an e-mail telling you that an e-mail addressed to e-AddressAlert could not be delivered or if you receive an e-mail in your Inbox from yourself with the subject line e-InboxAlert, either way, you will be *notified* of this in your Inbox almost immediately. Hence, if you ever receive these notifications, you will know right away that you have a virus in your system. You can then take steps to get rid of it! Unfortunately, some viruses are random and there is no substitute for good anti-virus software updated regularly. If you are running virus protection software, that you are updating regularly (this cannot be stressed enough), you will not need to panic. I hope this information helps. If you have problems or further questions please let me know. :-)) Thanks, Mike ************************* Michael G. McManness, a Jayhawk through and through, eating, sleeping, and bleeding Crimson and Blue near the University of Kansas. Family genealogist and research historian. "Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." --- Phillip Brooks *************************