Re: [Fwd: List of Known Macro Viruses: May 1997]

[Dorothy Day day@xxxxxxxx]

On Wed, 13 Aug 1997, Harmon Seaver wrote:

> Apparantly you didn't read the other posts in this thread, some of
> which stated that such things were impossible -- a nonsensical but
> common response to "email virus" warnings.
>

And from the latest version of the CIAC Internet HOAX page, once again,

	"CIAC still affirms that reading E-mail, using typical mail
	agents, can not activate malicious code delivered in or with the
	message."

I'll take CIAC as an authoritative source any day over pompous
pontificating from self-appointed experts.

Yes, you can open an attached file containing a macro and unleash a
virus (or allow your mailing software to do so without first querying
you!), but up till that point, ascii messages *will not by themselves
trigger any destructive activity*. If you've enough wit about you to
scan any unknown Word/Excel etc file for executable macros containing
viruses before opening it, you're not likely to be victimized.

Enough hysteria. What kind of enemies do you have, anyway, who would
send you such vile bombs?


*****
Dorothy Day			
School of Library and Information Science
Indiana University
day@xxxxxxxx	
*****
	"He also surfs who only sits and waits."