Viruses

[Winston Kinch]

Thanks Artur. I thought it might be possible, like for firewalls, for the software to scan the messages for viruses, but I guess you're right, since it would probably have to open every message to do that. I do not think the list should be moderated.
Cheers
Winston 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Artur F. Silva 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 5:30 AM
  Subject: Re: Viruses


  At 20:15 06-12-2001, Winston Kinch wrote:


    Is there no way for the listserv manager/software to automatically check messages for viruses and filter out buggy ones?

  I am no longer a specialist, but once I was (as an IBM SE...) and one gets a 
  feeling for these things...

  I think it is not easy for the listserve software to do that; what can be done at the 
  listserv SW level is to supress the sending of ALL attachments. On the other 
  level the list can change to being moderated, and someone would have 
  to check every message - but that has other problems.

  Internet service providers, on the other level, can do that ckeck if they are forced 
  to - but that has also other problems as it slows the response time.

  So the best solution is: everyone must have an anti-virus an keep it updated. 

  "Whatever happens is the only thing that could have" shall NOT be applied 
  here ;-)

  At 20:20 06-12-2001, Esther . wrote:


    I have noticed that the current virus seems to come from a legitimate email address with a _ at the beginning (an underscore) so that if you were to try to reply to it, you can't without removing the underscore from the beginning of the email.

    Perhaps the moderator or the listserv could look for those and eliminate them automatically?

    Maybe I'm asking too much but it's worth noting for all of us who look at our email - delete without opening ANY of it when the "from" address has the underscore at the beginning.

  I don't think there is a clear relation between the initial underscore and the fact of
  having the computer infected and hence sending (unwillingly) messages with
  virus.

  I think that people that use the underscore (or some blank caracters in
  the beginning) are only trying to protect themselves from spam and  other
  automatic replies.

  Regards

  Artur



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