Microsoft Outlook and the 'Hi' message screen saver program

December 4, 2001 | WIMom

[WIMom]

Has anyone received this message via Microsoft Outlook? If it is opened, it regenerates and copies people in your address book. I am not including the .scr file because I do not know the ramifications associated with this file. I know, I don't use Microsoft Outlook at home, but at work it is our only option. If anyone has additional information regarding this latest mess with Microsoft Outlook, please post your information. Thanks.......

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Subject: Hi

Text of message:

How are you ?
When I saw this screen saver, I immediately thought about you

[gone.scr] screen saver file,
dark blue image of Darth Vader
with light blue background

I am in a harry, I promise you will love it!

[toupsie]

Name one please that operates in Mac OS X. Until then its just plain OS envy. All I am asking is one name of a Mac OS X virus/worm/trojan. Visit Symantec, Network Associates, etc. You won't find one. There are only 50,000+ Windows viruses, trojans and worms so I guess it can't be that bad to be a Windows user but I would rather spend my money on productivity apps than virus protection apps, that is why I like Mac.

[calvin sun]

How do I disable the "preview" pane in Outlook Express? I click "Tools" then "options". But under the "read" tab I see no controls regarding enabling or disabling Preview Pane. Thanks.

[Roebucks]

And you're an idiot.

[Lazamataz]

We just got it. I thought that since the person was in a harry, I might as well open it. :o) (Seriously, I deleted it without opening)

[b fair]

I can safely open any attachment sent to me. Oh, that's right, I use a Mac.

I bought what the Mac wants to be.
A Sun Sparc10 workstation.

[WIMom]

We have 30 people who have computers. We're not shut down, but it is very easy to manage. I've worked for the big, unionized corporations who muck everything up with their policies, mid-sized private companies who think they are the next 'Ford' and now I'm at a small company, and it is the best so far. There isn't the bureaucracy to wade through. Good luck with your mail.

[toupsie]

Sweet but I have what a A Sun Sparc10 workstation wants to be (at work), a DEC AlphaStation. :P Thank god for UNIX!

[toupsie]

And you're an idiot.

Obviously not as much as an idiot as one that has to worry about e-mail viruses. But thanks for the personal attack. I can understand your envy and need to lash out. Take a deep breath and say, "It's O.K. I bought a computer because of some kid named Steve on TV."

[WIMom]

Hey, let's post it here and see how many people open it! John needs something more to do today. heh heh heh heh

[Psycho_Bunny]

Unlike you, I know what I'm talking about. I have nothing to prove nor rant about with an affected air of superiority nor do I have to make vain attempts to justify being over-charged for marginal hardware. If you think Macs “can’t get” a virus that’s fine.

You just keep thinking that.

[Lazamataz]

Sweet but I have what a A Sun Sparc10 workstation wants to be (at work), a DEC AlphaStation. :P Thank god for UNIX!

Yeah, and UNIX NEVER gets hacked! ;^)

[4CJ]

You could always resort to using Lotus Notes (which doesn't suffer from the scripting problem). Or you can turn off scripting (very few do).

[Redcloak]

From Macworld.com...

The top four Macintosh specific viruses are:

• Mac.Simpsons@mm: an AppleScript worm that targets the Macintosh platform. It may open Microsoft Outlook Express or Entourage, and send a copy of itself with the original message to everyone in your address book. The name of the script is "Simpsons Episodes."
• SevenDust: There are six variants of this virus, including four polymorphic, encrypted ones. What they have in common is that they all infect applications by modifying MDEF and MENU resources, and they can create a System Extension (with an invisible character at the beginning of the name so it loads early) or add an INIT resource to the System file.
• CODE 9811: This virus spreads from application to application. When an infected application is launched, it searches for another application to infect and copies itself into that application. The contents of the original file are copied to an invisible file in the same folder whose name is composed of arbitrary upper case letters. The infected application also attempts to delete anti-virus software it finds in the default volume's root folder, or in the System, Control Panels or Extensions folders.
• MBDF: a virus that first appeared in 1992. The MBDF A strain originated from a Trojan Horse virus named Tetracycle. Additionally, MBDF A was found to be distributed in versions of Obnoxious Tetris and Ten Tile Puzzle.

The Simpsons virus can affect Mac OS X -- so can SevenDust, CODE 0911 and MBDF, but only in the Classic environment.

There's 4. Do I win a prize?

[VoiceOfBruck]

While we're on the subject of virus protection, I'll share one of my strategies - I prescreen all my mail with a browser-based mail reader such as mail2web.com. Anything with an executable attachment, or any unknown type of attachment (what's a .pif, by the way?), gets deleted. It's also a good opportunity to get rid of junk mail before having to download it.

[Leesylvanian]

I am in a harry, I promise you will love it!

You're in a "harry" what? Can I get some?

[toupsie]

Unlike you, I know what I'm talking about.

Obviously not. If you did, you would have been able to rattle off a list in no time but thanks for answering my question. You just wrote a check you can't seem to cash. You couldn't find ONE virus that specifically targets Mac OS X so you need to revert to personal attacks and to disparage an Operating System you most likely never have used. Typical Windows Bias (Hello Bernard Goldberg, next book). You even claimed that they were NASTY, so what are their names? Hrmmm? Stupid Mac users like me would sure like to know from a Computer Expert like you. I await your PC brilliance on the subject of Mac OS X viruses, trojans and worms.

If you can't, I completely understand. Be sure to remove the foot slowly from your mouth as the laces can get caught in dental work.

[Roebucks]

Hey dipstick,

Check your meter, you're low on comprehension and high on yourself. I never stated I had a problem with email viruses or any other kind of virus.

As far as personal attacks, you invite them with your assinine assumptions. Of course, starting out a dialogue by calling the poster cheap, prior to learning any facts is neither assinine, an assumption or a personal attack. Is it? No, I didn't think so.

[toupsie]

Yeah, and UNIX NEVER gets hacked! ;^)

Never by an e-mail attachment. You really have to try to get into a UNIX box remotely. Unlike Windows where I send you an e-mail promising a nekkid picture of a Russian tennis player for access! :P

[toupsie]

Grow up Roebucks or leave it on the playground. The last time I heard dipstick was during a 2nd grade recess.

[b fair]

Sweet but I have what a A Sun Sparc10 workstation wants to be (at work), a DEC AlphaStation. :P Thank god for UNIX!

Nice!!!
My next computer will be a PC.
Personal Cray!