Warning. Some types of e-mail attachments can carry dangerous viruses. It is strongly recommended that you install reliable anti-virus software and keep it up to date.
Here are some anti-virus rules worth following:
Anti-virus protection
Rule 1. No kids' games from school on floppy disks.
Rule 2. No booting from floppy - alter CMOS settings.
Rule 3. Get good anti-virus software, and keep it up to date.
Good av software provides regular updates, but it is up to you to
download them. It is not automatic in most cases.
Rule 4. Install latest patches from MS.
Rule 5. Never open an e-mail attachment unless you know who sent
it and know that it is safe.
*** See below.
Rule 6. In e-mail use only plain text settings.
Rule 7. Change your settings to show all files - don't hide name
extensions.
Email attachments:
In late 2001 a new type of virus emerged. It propagates through email attachments, but it opens the attachment itself by using some html code. The following rules are now necessary to add to the above:
1. Upgrade your copy of Outlook Express (and Internet Explorer) to version 6. This gives you a new security option, which you access by clicking on Tools, Options, Security (in the main OE window).
2. Divert all emails with attachments into a new folder called "attachments"
Click on File, Folder, New or File, New, Folder. Name it "Attachments" and attach it to "Local Folders"
3. Create a new mail rule.
Click on Tools, Message Rules, Mail, New, and add
In the third panel, click on the word "specified" folder, and select the attachments folder.
Finally, give the new rule a meaningful name, such as "Attachments"
Then, as usual, click OK, and check that your new rule has been set up properly.
You should also use the "Move up" button to move this rule to the head of the list, so that it is the first rule to be processed.
Now all new emails with attachments will be lodged in this new folder. You may want to apply the rule to all existing folders. Just follow the prompts.
When you open the Attachments Folder, make sure first that the second security option (see above) has been ticked. You can now step through your attachments folder so as to identify any emails which are suspect or bear the known signs of virus carriers.
e.g. Text area is blank
Subject and text are not the kind of thing this sender would normally say to you.
The attachment file name has a double extension such as .jpg.pif
(Read the literature to keep up with this list)
After you have deleted suspect or infected emails, it is then safe to un-select the security option and go back through the safe emails. If there is any reason for still being unsure, then save the attachment to the desktop. Use File, Save Attachments. You can then scan them with your antivirus software before opening. Some av programs will not permit you to save infected files, so they will protect you even before you ask.
Tip: When deleting, highlight the email header in the header pane, then press Shift/Delete (on the keyboard)
After deleting suspect emails, compact the Attachments folder.
By the way. Picture files such as genuine jpg and gif files bypass the security check, so they can be viewed even in the secure mode.
If someone tells you that you have a virus, do not be offended.
It is not an insult. It is an emergency.
If you have the magistr virus, it will eventually destroy your hard drive.
If you have the badtrans virus, it may eventually steal all the money in your bank account.
These two viruses (and many others also) send out copies from your computer without your knowledge. No copy will appear in your sent items folder, and you will not know that you have the virus until one of several things happen:
1. Your hard disc may be trashed.
2. Your bank account is attacked.
3. You run an absolutely up-to-date, this very moment, anti-virus software package.
4. Your friend tells you.
5. Some ISP sends your message back to say you have a virus.
If you have good friends, then number 4 above will be the first notification you will receive.
If someone says you have a virus, don't try to deny it. Check it.
If you don't know how, ask your computer supplier, ask your ISP, ask your friend, ask the supplier who provided your av software.
© James Nelson, 2001.