This is not entirely accurate as viruses can be caused by several different
file types, not only executables. Once a email is sent and then the
attachment is opened a viri can then infect the host, an example is If I
sent you a word document that contained macro viruses (not executable) it is
a virus that only will attack other documents, such as text files, document
files and spreadsheet files as well through the use of the macro program.
The macro virus also may utilize other programs on your computer such as the
Melissa virus in that when a user opens an infected document, the virus will
attempt to e-mail a copy of this document to up to 50 other people, using
Microsoft Outlook. This is not an executable it is done by opening a word
document received through email. It only does the mass mailing once by
checking registry keys.

Other samples of what is thought to be viruses such are
Happy99 Worm Program
Promail.Trojan
Hoaxes

These are just as they state they are trojans, worms, and hoaxes similar to
viruses but different. To get accurate information regarding these subjects
you can research these at the Computer Incident Advisory web site hosted by
the US Dept. of Energy at http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html there
are several other sites that are resourceful as Jesse stated below, and also
as Jesse stated below Email itself does not cause viruses only opening
attachments in Email can in fact cause the start of a viri. Please note that
email is not the only method that viri can be received as if you are a user
that utilizes other services through networks (includes dialup) such as FTP,
you can then receive viri as well.


Ed Powell
Network Security Engineer
backgas@ta*.rr*.co*
"Good pings come in small packets"

-----Original Message-----
From: Jess Armantrout [mailto:armantrout@wo*.at*.ne*]
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 1999 10:19 AM
To: Randylabel@ao*.co*; cavers@cavers.com; vbtech@ci*.co*
Subject: EMAIL VIRUS MY ASS


AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH

The "virus" is the fact that this shit keeps getting sent around.

Once again, boys and girls, and please repeat after me:

emails do not cause viruses, executables files, often attached to emails,
cause viruses when executed.

Forward THIS letter out to as many people as you can.

for much more info, go to

http://kumite.com/myths/

and specifically

http://www.stiller.com/guts.htm

for info on this an other virus hoaxes and don't post this crap to a list
until you check there first.

trout

-----Original Message-----
From: Randylabel@ao*.co* <Randylabel@ao*.co*>
To: cavers@cavers.com <cavers@cavers.com>; vbtech@ci*.co*
<vbtech@ci*.co*>
Date: Thursday, April 22, 1999 7:01 AM
Subject: Fwd:


>a friend set me this, so i'm just passing along the info
>
>     Randy
>
><< Subject: VIRUS
>
>
> WARNING!
>
> IF YOU RECEIVE AN EMAIL TITLED "IT TAKES GUTS TO SAY JESUS".
>
> DO NOT OPEN IT.
>
> IT WILL ERASE EVERYTHING ON YOUR HARD DRIVE.
>
> THIS INFORMATION WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY MORNING FROM IBM; AOL STATES THAT
> THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VIRUS, MUCH WORSE THAN "MELISSA" AND THAT THERE
IS
> NO REMEDY FOR IT AT THIS TIME. SOME VERY SICK INDIVIDUAL HAS SUCCEEDED IN
> USING THE RE-FORMAT FUNCTION FROM NORTON UTILITIES CAUSING IT TO
COMPLETELY
> ERASE ALL DOCUMENT ON THE HARD DRIVE.  IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO WORK WITH
> NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR AND MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER.  IT DESTROYS MACINTOSH
> AND IBM COMPATIBLE COMPUTERS.
>
> THIS IS A NEW, VERY MALICIOUS VIRUS AND NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.
> PASS THIS WARNING ALONG TO EVERYONE ON YOUR ADDRESS BOOK AND PLEASE SHARE
> IT WITH ALL YOUR ONLINE FRIENDS ASAP SO THAT THIS THREAT MAY BE STOPPED.
> PLEASE PRACTICE CAUTIONARY MEASURES AND TELL ANYONE THAT MAY HAVE ACCESS
> TO YOUR COMPUTER.  FORWARD THIS WARNING TO EVERYONE THAT MIGHT ACCESS THE
> INTERNET.
>  >>
>
>
>

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