virus protection

[David LeBlanc <dleblanc@mindspring.com>]

Network security is my day job, so I have a bit of background on this one,
and there have been some recent changes.

First of all, never, ever open an executable attachment.  Don't be fooled
by an icon that looks like something else - I can change the icon of an
executable to look like a picture file.  When you double-click on an
attachment, read the warning message carefully - if it is really a
executable, it will say so in the name at the top.  People can even install
remote control software using an executable, and then your computer is
broadcasting to the world that you've been hacked.  Not fun.

If an attachment is a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file, make sure you've got
macro protection enabled, and if there is an auto-open macro, DO NOT run
it.  I can do most of the same evil tricks with a macro as I can an
executable.

It is also possible to fire some viruses just by reading mail in an
HTML-enabled mail reader, by embedding script into the mail.  See
http://www.ntbugtraq.com/default.asp?sid=1&pid=47&aid=56 for a really good
write-up on what's affected, and this is especially useful if you're
running Outlook as your mail reader.


David LeBlanc
dleblanc@mindspring.com


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