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Guys, in just reading post over the past few minutes I would say that anyone of you who have had your e-mail address exposed on P-L should NOT open any attachement unless they know for certain who it is from, and I heard from one computer expert that it is possiable to now even click onto an e-mail and getting a virus. I don't know if this is true or not.

I have anti-virus at the office but a few weeks ago lost a lot of things on the home computer due to a virus. Now I have virus protection there.

Guys, if you don't have anti-virus protection GET IT!  It is fairly cheap. It appears someone is deliberatly sending a virus to P-L members.

... in response to VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Jack on Feb 5, 2002

and have MSFT scan your computer for new patches for your Windows OS.  They're always coming up with 'critical updates' and not notifying anyone of those updates.

Do it now!

... in response to VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Jack on Feb 5, 2002

Back in September Microsoft came up with a fix for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express for the viruses at that time.  You should have gotten the free update then.  Also if you use Microsoft Outlook you can set an option to not automatically open your mail.  This keeps you from accidentally opening suspicious mail and launching a virus program.  I don't know if Outlook Express has this option or not.

... in response to VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Jack on Feb 5, 2002

Most all viruses spread themselves by taking advantage of either Microsoft Outlook or Eudora weaknesses and sending copies of themself to the addresses in the address books stored on the computer.  In almost all cases, the computer owner isn't even aware that his computer has sent out the virus.  If you receive a virus, you should always let the sender know that they're infected.  I wouldn't assume it's a malicious act.  I think a lot of people assume that the sender was "out to get them," but that's almost never the case.  If someone sends you a virus, let them know they're infected.

It's also a good idea to update your virus checker definition file on a regular basis since new viruses are always being created.   Using an email client that's not very popular is a good way of staying out of the virus loop.  You can also check for patches to Outlook which are sometimes released to plug vulnerable holes inb the software.   I use Rit Lab's "The Bat," which no virus I've yet heard of has been designed for.  I receive e-mail from all over the world and get probably 100 or so infected emails per month.  They're much more common in other countries where virus checking software isn't as widely used.

For board e-mail addresses, I would recommend using a Hotmail or Yahoo account and not opening attachments.  Unless you download the attachment, you're not going to get infected.

... in response to VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Jack on Feb 5, 2002

You may have to set up your anti-virus to specifically check your email.

-blm

... in response to VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Jack on Feb 5, 2002

Man I ran a virus check and came up clean, but it seems like every other post I try to make a sign pops up killing my post saying I've performed an illeagle task, blah blah blah and then I have to click on it to make it go away and it closes half or all my windows I have open. Any ideas?

Mike ---- who knows very little about computers.

... in response to Re: VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Mike on Feb 5, 2002

I don't know much about computers either but I did have that same problem.  The only time I get the illegal error message and the post wiped out is after I have cleared out my cookies.  It would have the problem you describe just before I had time to look up my password and type it in.  If you remember your password and type it in fast or if your password is stored in a cookie, then you should not have this problem.  That is if it is the same as what happened to me.

... in response to Re: Re: VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Ramblin on Feb 6, 2002

My knowledge about computers is small to say the least. umm I thought cookies was something you dip in your milk.
Mike

... in response to Re: VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Mike on Feb 5, 2002

update your internet explorer to 5.5 sp2. It should be under tools at the top meny on IE 5.

-blm

... in response to Run a windows update or..., posted by BarryM on Feb 5, 2002

Thanks BM I downloaded a few things as you suggested, I'll let you know if the problem contenues.
Mike

... in response to VIRUS ALERT!!!!!!, posted by Jack on Feb 5, 2002

FWIW, you can set up a hotmail account to retrieve your pop mail account.  (maybe yahoo can do the same) I assume that hotmail, like yahoo, can scan your email as it retrieves it.

Richard