IMHO, the "latest virus definitions" are there to catch the self-opening
ones. If you can see it before and it is suspicious, just delete the thing.
And if it purports to be from someone you know, send him a note back asking
if he really sent you something and, if so, to send it again. If it is
important enough, he will. But the 99% likelihood is 1) he didn't send it,
his address was spoofed, 2) it is a virus but from someone else's machine
who happens to have your friend in his mailing list and who also is clueless
his machine is infected.
"known sender" is no longer a safe basis on which to open an attachment.
Nowadays, those sending attachments MUST include plain-text language
indicating what the attachment is, thus reassuring the recipient it is
clean. "I found this neat [whatever] and thought you'd enjoy it" is not only
not specific enough, but is in fact text that often accompanies virus
mailings.
--Rocky
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Curry" <Spitlist@gte.net>
To: "Tom Strange" <tstrange@new.rr.com>
Cc: <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: britbits?????
> Tom,
> It is fellow FOTer Jim Gambony. But it may not have been sent by him.
> Several worms are floating around the internet these days picking up
> email addresses from people's address books. If you have the latest
> virus definitions, it is probably safe to open the attachment.
>
> Regards,
> Joe (C)
>
> Tom Strange wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> > I just recieved an email with an attachment "language" from
"britbits.
> > Just off hand I'm not sure who this is.... did anyone else get it, or
know
> > what it is...
> > Not opening it untill I know more, but I hate to throw something away
from a
> > list member either..
> > Thanks in advance,
> > Tom
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