From: Virus Alerts Not True (notpossible@ricochet.net)
Date: Wed Nov 04 1998 - 23:40:29 MST
E-Mail Viruses
I'm sure you have all received e-mails warning you of dire consequences if
you read an e-mail whose subject is "Good News!" or "AOL4FREE" or "Win a
Holiday" or something like that. These are *hoaxes* intended to damage
free communication by making people afraid to use e-mail. When you
consider the time wasted reading and forwarding such things, they are as
destructive as the real thing.
It is not possible -- NOT POSSIBLE -- to get a virus by just reading an
e-mail, unless the e-mail contains a macro or attachment that you then
execute.
Here are two simple rules that, if followed, will protect you from any
e-mailed virus:
1. If you ever read a mail message and you get a warning that alerts you
that the mail contains macros, make sure that you select the option to
disable macros before you continue.
2. If you ever receive a mail message from someone you do not know and that
mail contains an attachment, do not open the attachment till you have made
sure the attachment does not contain a virus. There are programs on the
market that can be used to check such things.
You should also be aware that both Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word have
a built-in macro checker that will automatically alert you to the existence
of a macro in a file that you open as long as you do not disable this
function.
The next time you get one of these hoaxes, don't panic. And, instead of
forwarding the email to all your friends, please reply to it with this
article to help educate and stop the unnecessary panic.
For more information on virus hoaxes, try these sites:
http://kumite.com/myths/home.htm
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