** EMERGENCY VIRUS ALERT - W32/Goner@MM **

McAfee Associates (via email) | 12/04/01 | McAfee Associates

[Arthalion]

The problem with that line of thought is that it ignores the fact that Outlook is far more than just an email program. It's a scheduler, a contact list, an email client, a note pad, a task manager, and a whole lot more. I like the fact that the centralized directory services in Outlook allow me to type the name of any person in my organization into the TO field, and it will perform the address search for me, so I don't have to waste time searching the thousands fo entries in my personal directory (in an organization with nearly 25,000 people, little features like that become very important). My time is also made more efficient by the fact that any of our organizations users can set appointments with me on the fly, from their own computers, without having to call me and check my schedule. Centralized services with Exchange means that I can check both new and old email, update and check my schedule, and look at my tasks lists from any computer on my network.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. When someone releases an application with all of the features of Microsoft Outlook, I'll switch. But I don't see that happening. And, by the way, we intelligent users don't have problems with virii like Goner. My Mcaffee virus filter picked up on the virus before infection was ever a danger, and alerted me to it. After the first one, I just tossed together an Outlook rule to destroy incoming email that fit certain criteria before they ever reach my PC (Subject:Hi, Contains Keyword:"in a harry" Attatchment:Yes). Problem solved.

[js1138]

I use Outlook Express, the one that everyone makes fun of. I have it set to display text only. Any attachments are displayed as files to be opened at my option. The complete filename is displayed, along with any and all extensions.

I have instructed my family that any filename with two dots in the name is almost certainly a virus.

[Leroy S. Mort]

For anyone nuts enough to have infected their computer with this script-kiddie worm, Symantec has posted a removal tool HERE.

[aspide]

That is one of the best parodies I've seen. Great!

[avg_freeper]

I'm in too much of a harry to deal with all of these alerts.

[Ramius]

Yeah, and if car makers would only make cars that would only travel at ten mph, nobody would die in crashes.

People seem to want things that are feature-rich so that lots of thing happen automagically, but then blame the maker for their own inability to get it to work safely.

It is so tiresome to hear people (who interestingly enough claim to not use the product) bellyache about that product as if they have some sort of moral high ground. Virus writers will exploit that which is popular because that is how they can get the widest effect. If some other product were the most popular, then that is what they would target.

If you foolishly believe that some simple little pop3 mailer or your Macintosh has no vulnerabilities... then you are gravely mistaken. People don't write many viruses for Amiga either.

[Hank Rearden]

"Feature-rich"? I assume you're NOT talking about Outlook.

Show me a virus propagated through Eudora's address book, in use by many millions of people.

Outlook is crap, pure and simple. Switching away from it would go a long way toward suppressing viruses.

[Ramius]

Whatever...

I don't carry an emotional burden for the software I use, and I'm just not going to play in the game of "microsoft makes me so mad I could just spit". I have this uncanny ability, it seems, to be able to drive a Ford without first having to hate Chevy.

Anything that supports scripting can be exploited, that is: a computer. That's all it takes. The only part of any system that makes it invulnerable is the off switch.

[yoe]

I received an e-mail from these folks last week, and assumed it was an ad to buy their product. I have Norton Anti Virus, isn't that safe enough? What does this virus use as a message to get you to open the mail?

[ErnBatavia]

to #7 Lowbridge - the only thing worse might be to get on an airplane, see your pal and say....."Hi, Jack!"

[toupsie]

What is this? Another Windows virus? You got to be kidding me! I thought Windows was the next best thing to sliced bread. Thank god I use a Mac like my old buddy, Rush Limbaugh...

:P

[nagdt]

Yeah, an idiot with CBS/Dallas opened it and spread the virus to nearly the whole company. Dave Siebert-VPGM of three Dallas stations has opened 3 seperate virus e-mails and put the companies networking capabilities in jeapordy. What an idiot. When are they going to teach General Managers of large broadcasting companies to learn how to use computers?

[Mulder]

When are they going to teach General Managers of large broadcasting companies to learn how to use computers?

Don't hold your breath.

Most corporate managers have trouble with an etch-a-sketch, let alone a computer.