I think that would be a very good place for virus writers to spend say... 30 years or so. Staked to an ant hill with honey smeared all over them. I realize they have their own twisted little agenda believing it to be of vast importance. Something like - they hate Microsoft, they want to collect email addys for spammers, they want to steal something, they want computers to put bots on for DDOS - you know, important stuff.
This is so important that the rest of us should feel honored, I suppose, to spend 1 to 3 days with no email. The IS people can know that their 24 to 48 hours of straight thru work, is a just reward for working with computers in the first place. (they should also note that they are getting their just desserts for using PC's). Users can take heart, knowing that their address books are being put to such excellent use.
Upon consideration I think ant hills are a little too kind, but perhaps I am over reacting...
Oh yes there is more
Then we have the ever helpful souls who will always want to check every attachment they receive. Thus, the rest of us can enjoy the fruits of their zealousness in leaving no attachment unopened. They kindly explain that they either 1) get lots of emails and it's necessary to open them or 2) they really only open attachments from people they know. (honest!)
Last we have the antivirus companies and CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team). They tell us - keep your virus signatures updated, scan everything. All the while failing to mention that they can only put a virus signature out, after they know about the virus... So, if you are the poor schmuck who opens the email before there is an update available and have listened to all the AV company hype, you may think you are always protected, only to find - oops we didn't know about THAT one yet.
I'm sure you all realize I'm going nowhere with this. I just had to rant a bit and blow off some steam. To date we haven't learned how to pre-empt a virus strike. We've only learned how to react to them and clean up the mess afterward. Hmmm - sounds a bit like the situation with the terrorists now doesn't it.
Yep, I'm tired of it. I've received well over 300 of these stupid virus laden emails today. I use a program that screens mail, only mail I specifically approve can pass to my inbox, the rest I view on the server and delete from there. None the less, it's annoying and tiring.
Jennifer Martinez sends
Posted by: Jennifer Martinez | January 27, 2004 at 10:47 PM
Yep, I was lucky; only got about 20 of the little suckers yesterday... But now of course spam is being sent out in my name, and I'm getting flack back from that! Don't people know it's NOT ME?? Arrgghhh!!
I'm so paranoid I do a live update and then a scan every day. Plus, I'm not stupid enough to open an attachment from someone I don't know. ;)
Posted by: pam | January 28, 2004 at 09:30 AM
Pam is right. The most basic rule of safe computing is don't open attachments from people you don't know. Heck, even if you DO know them, it doesn't hurt to drop them a line saying "did you send me this" before you open it.
Oh, and wear condoms on your fingers when you type. Can't be too careful. Lord only knows what touches your keyboard when you're not around :-)
Posted by: Harvey | January 28, 2004 at 09:44 AM
"Oh, and wear condoms on your fingers when you type. Can't be too careful. Lord only knows what touches your keyboard when you're not around :-)"
The customers at your bank must find it verrry interesting to do business with you *G*.
Posted by: Teresa | January 28, 2004 at 12:13 PM
Unfortunately, "I never open attachments from someone I don't know" now creates a terribly misplaced sense of security. Due to the methods teh viruses have benn using for some time, it is quite likely that th ereturn address will be one you know.
Just don't open any attachment you didn't specificaly request, as Harvey says. Don't you just love how much time & effort each of these messes causes?
Hey Teresa... welcome to TypePad!
Paul
Posted by: Light & Dark | January 29, 2004 at 04:43 PM
Unfortunately, "I never open attachments from someone I don't know" now creates a terribly misplaced sense of security. Due to the methods the viruses have been using for some time, it is quite likely that the return address will be one you know.
Just don't open any attachment you didn't specificaly request, as Harvey says. Don't you just love how much time & effort each of these messes causes?
Hey Teresa... welcome to TypePad!
Paul
Posted by: Light & Dark | January 29, 2004 at 05:45 PM