Re: ADMIN: computer viruses

[Chris Luethen <christian.luethen @gmx.net>]

On 7 May 2002, at 20:46, J Lane wrote:

> I have changed the ListServer's options so that it will reject
> posts that contain MIME attachments.  This should reduce the
> chances of the ListServer distributing a virus (including the
> klez virus), but it is going to inconvenience some people.
Thank you for establishing those features. IMHO we definitely do
not need any attachement posted open through the list.

> I have also changed the ListServer options for the tango-l list.
> Messages from tango-l should now have a "[TANGO-L] " prefix in
> the subject line.
Unfortunatly this hasn't happend to the posting I receive. I actually
absolutely support introducing this option, not only for the improved
safety but also offering the possibilty to easier see at first glimps
where a mail comes from! [I am on different mailing list,
professional and non-professional, and sometimes you can hardly
tell from the subject where the roots of a mail are]

> Risks to internet users have become more frequent and more
> sophisticated each year.  Detailed discussions of these risks
> is off topic for a tango list, and the information is readily
> available elsewhere.  Briefly, though: opening email attachments
> is always dangerous, even if they appear to come from a trusted
> source.  Viewing email in HTML and/or MIME is also generally
> dangerous; this is part of the reason why the tango lists require
> plain text format.  For more information, check out www.cert.org
> and/or the various vendors of antivirus software.
Information lies in the words, not in the formating. Therefore again:
Thanks for establishing all these safety measures!

Regards from Rotterdam, NL
Christian