Posted by Todd (64.34.202.197) on March 20, 2001 at 16:45:51:
In Reply to: Virus posted by Todd on March 20, 2001 at 16:31:30:
You canNOT transmit a virus just by posting a normal ol' message to this message board.
If you know enough html, you could stick a link in to download a virus, but people would have to click the link, download the file and then open it on their puter. In 83,000+ messages, I don't believe I've ever seen anyone link a downloadable file, let alone a virus.
You CAN get a virus from an alt.news type newsgroup. These were precursors to the present message boards and are typically only frequented nowadays by byteheads and oldtimey net folks (pre-WWW). The reason you can get one from a newsgroup is that they work via email.
Oh, and one class of virus can be sent in the body of an email - not as an attachment. This works by exploiting a security hole in Outlook. Just click the Windows Update listing on your Start Menu (should be right at the top of the popup menu) and grab all the Critical Downloads available for your puter. Also turn off (if you use it) the Preview Pane function in Outlook.
Finally, for $1000/day and first class travel and accomodations, I'll be glad to come to your house or job and check out your machine. Alternatively, you could ship me your puter and I'll check it out here. If it's better than mine, I'll get it back to you in 6 - 12 months.
;-)