This might seem like a dumb question, but....

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Okay, this might seem like a dumb question, but it's one I've wondered about for some time, and more so lately because of the possibility of 200,000 viruses being released in late December/early January. If we have electricity and telephones, is it safe to used the Internet during the period of late December and early January? Even with a good anti-virus program, will the average PC be shielded from all these viruses? Will the Y2K bug interrupt the Internet?

-- Linda Hitchings (lindasue1@earthlink.net), November 16, 1999

Answers

No one really know Linda

-- sandy (rstyree@overland.net), November 16, 1999.

Virus programs can't just infect your computer because it is connected to the internet. They have to be downloaded and then executed in order to get into your system. If it was just a matter of viewing HTML-and image web pages, you could surf forever and never get a single virus.

The trick is that some pages can execute code. In particular, ActiveX scripting in Explorer is just an invitation for strange code to come in and take over your machine. Turn it off. Javascript is also a mess, full of security holes. Turn that off too. Java is supposed to be safe, but isn't 100%. If you are nervous, turn that off too.

Finally, don't use Outlook Express or any other mail reader than does anything "automatically" for you other than read the mail. If it opens attachments that are executable programs, that's another route for viruses.

You can be reasonably safe, even without an anti-virus program, if you just keep in mind the distinction between looking at data and running programs. It's the latter that gets you in trouble.

-- You Know... (notme@nothere.com), November 16, 1999.


They say the new Bubbleboy virus can get you even if you don't open the email.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 16, 1999.

Linda...

.....I think this story is just another to be added to the long list of hog waddle being thrown out to blame y2k on, (for the .govs to remain in CYA mode).

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), November 17, 1999.


Linda --

Log on first at the public library -- like I do.

Squirrl Huntr >"<

-- SH (squirrl@huntr.com), November 17, 1999.



Patrick is right. The reason the FBI is saying that there will be 200,000 viruses released on January 1 is because that is the number they calculated they would need to explain all of the Y2K fu*kups that they know they didn't fix. How else could they possibly know in advance that number of viruses would occur? Besides, if they wanted to avoid these so-called attacks, why wouldn't they just disconnect most systems from the Net until they clean up the viruses.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 17, 1999.

I've even heard that you can get the Bubbleboy virus from toilet seats! (Sorry, I couldn't resist).

I tend to agree with those that say that a lot of the blame for Y2K (and by extension, the gvmnt's lack of planning in dealing with it) is going to be shifted to viruses, terrorists, squirrels chewing on wires, etc. It should be interesting to hear all the spin...assuming the electricity stays on and we can actually watch the news!

-- Ludi (ludi@rollin.com), November 17, 1999.


That new center is Washington will be looking for anything to blame problems on except y2k.

-- Dave (dannco@hotmail.com), November 17, 1999.

There are no dumb questions, just dumb people. :-)
Actually, I think there probably is a significantly higher threat of virus attacks on 2000-01-01. (Assuming we still have an internet.) I forget the proper term for date sensitive "sleeper" viruses, but many viruses are programmed to go off on specific dates (a classic one being the "Michelangelo" virus set to go off EVERY March 6). And 2000-01-01 would be a "psychologically pleasant" date for virus writers to use as a trigger for such viruses.

See if your anti-virus program looks for suspicious internet casued activity and that it's up-to-date.

A recent thread:
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001kMP

-- A (A@AisA.com), November 18, 1999.


Paul,nice to hear from you again. Do you remember the first 2 days after the Oklahoma bombing- it was blammed on Muslin terrorists?

-- Jan Czarnecki (janczar@air.on.ca), November 18, 1999.


sorry, wrong thread

-- jan czarnecki (janczar@air.on.ca), November 18, 1999.

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