[extropy-chat] SPAM: active virus

[Robert J. Bradbury]

All,

In case you haven't heard the news there are two new active
viruses/works currently spreading.

The worst is the MyDoom/Novarg virus.  See:

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/01/27/0038234&mode=thread

and links it points to.

I just got my first copy -- snuck past both filtering agents
I have in place.  (Fortunately I read email only in text so
it can't infect me unless I do something really stupid).

Do *NOT* open any attachments -- even from people you trust
unless you also trust that their systems cannot be corrupted
and/or you confirm with them that they actually sent a specific
message *with* an attachment.

The MyDoom virus sends the virus to everyone in your address
list.  Another virus running around scans your files for
Paypal or other E-pay system information and sends it to
criminals who would presumably like to make use of it to
enlarge their bank accounts.

Warn your friends and family about this.  Also it may be
worth adopting some convention with them regarding seeding
subject line security keys that a virus cannot easily pick off
from an address book (e.g. birthday, birth city, mother's
maiden name, etc.) -- that way they can identify safe
messages (at least until the viruses start picking off
Subject lines from your sent-mail folder.

Robert