So, there's this new virus going around our office and the name of the file is "Life Stages" (also "Funny Joke"). I have now gotten at least 10 different versions of this file in my inbox.

What gets me is that we JUST went through all this virus crap with the I love you virus about 2 months ago, if it was even that long. Why are people so dumb that they open up and RUN a file from someone they don't even know?! I mean, as soon as I saw it in my email I thought, "Hey.. that's a virus, I'm deleting that."

I'm about 3 seconds away from sending a mass email to the entire country directory saying, "HEY! DUMBASS! QUIT SENDING AROUND THE DAMN VIRUS!!"

Thanks for letting me vent :)

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

Answers

The funny thing is, the person who created it should know it can be traced. THEY are the morons. But I agree with you, anyone who opens the file of an unknown sender needs to be taken out back and shot. Or at the very least taken to the center of town and stoned by his/her angry colleagues.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

Computer viruses are no different than real viruses, so remember: you're e-mailing every person they've ever e-mailed. ;)

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Angela, I undestand your frustration, and yes, it seems, people are really dumb. I mean we eat cream pies and fried, reprocessed, pesticided, genetically engineered, irradiated, deodorised, fumigated stuff for God's sake!

This may sound a little extreme, but if you look around at what "we" actually do...

So computer viruses that come disguised as yet another diversion are welcomed into our empty lives and i suppose that the people that are infected with this stuff are the people who are less informed and aware in general - ie. most of the population.

Still, the mind boggles... If avoiding a virus is as easy as not opening ( and deleting) mail and attachments of unknown content...

I am kind of new to the computer and this is what i have been able to ascertain so far. It seems easy. We haven't had a serious virus on our computer in the year we've had it. One we did have was due to ignorance - hopefully that ignorance is fixed now, at least to an extent.

I can understand new and inexperienced users being hit by thi stuff, but like you said, people who only just recently were hit with the "I love you virus" being duped again?! It's pretty dumb.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

Computer virues are a strange thing. I've been working with computers for 20 years; networked computers for 10. I have *never* received a virus or encountered a virus on my computer. No virus detection software I have ever used has ever detected a virus on any computer that I used. I have never implemented any screening for computer viruses outside of standard software measures.

So perhaps I just don't know any dumb people.

I think it is important to point out that as more people get on the Internet, this will occur more often. Not only will there be more people sending the virus, but there will be more creators out there, too. Luckily, most virus writers are idiots. A few people out there could write some seriously devestating code, but usually choose not to because they can use their talents for something better.

If viruses bug you, switch operating systems. Mac OS is a good alternative. There are very few viruses written for the Macintosh, and even fewer that exploit email. Of course, this means a higher hardware cost, at least until Mac OS X for x86 comes out.

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2000

I, too, have never even received a virus e-mail, or found a virus on a disk. Of course, I work mostly on Unix systems, and, well, people who are using Unix generally have far more creative ways to hack into your computer and use it for evil.

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2000

Haven't had viruses either and I know LOTS of dumb (or, more kindly, computer-ignorant) people. Mostly it's because I've used a Mac primarily for 9-10 years. And, yes, was on UNIX system up until 2 years ago.

Now that I've been assimilated into the Microsoft Office Suite Purgatory, there are virus scares, warnings, problems almost every month. One reason for that is because 85% or so (I believe) of all computer users work on MS-software-laden non-Mac machines. Ergo, there's going to be a high percentage of MS-software-directed bugs and evil primarily because it would make less sense for a person using MS/IBM stuff and who was wanting to cause trouble to make a Mac bug.

That, and, speaking as a total ignoramus as far as programming gfoes, I know the file system set-ups, etc., are different between the two OS referenced here, and supposedly it's somewhat more difficult to make a good Mac virus.

As far as propagating virii, any of us who were online before the paynets hit the scene recall the fury and irritation re: commercial e- mail, spam, etc., and we've already got paranoia and suspicion regarding any unsolicited "READ ME!!! :) :) :)" e-mails. In this case, it isn't intelligence vs. stupidity saving our asses, but experience and exasperation. I don't care if someone I don't know wants to send me a love letter, I'm not reading it. My time is too valuable.

P.S. You realize, folks, that by saying you haven't ever had a virus-- esp. if you do so with a hint of gloat and "it's so dumb to open unsolicited e-mail" innuendo--that you're challenging a certain type of hobbiless and life-free individual to make you feel a world of hurt. Not sayin' anyone's gloating or being superior here, 'cause no one is, but all the same, ya might want to keep your viral virginity under your hat. ;)

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2000

Disabling .VBS files from executing

CHECK BEFORE YOU DO THIS, just to be extra-secure. I don't think it will hurt anything, and it is a cut and paste directly from our help desk techs, but I don't want a whiny e-mail from anyone. Ask your help-desk person or use your own best judgement.

"Although antivirus software can detect .vbs worms and you update your antivirus signature files regularly (right?!), in light of the increase in the numbers of .vbs viruses in the wild it would be a good idea to reduce the risk of becoming infected with a .vbs virus to zero. You can do that by disabling .vbs files from running on your computer. The only people who might not want to do this are some programmers (and you know who you are). The rest of us will not lose any functionality.

Disabling .vbs file types will assure that no .vbs file can execute on your computer, since the file type can no longer be recognized. Please complete the easy steps below (select the method listed under the appropriate operating system) to give your computer an additional layer of protection against .vbs viruses.

Disabling Windows Scripting Host These instructions explain how to tell whether Windows Scripting Host (WSH) is installed on your machine and how to disable the running of VBS scripts. This prevents viruses such as VBS/LoveLet-A from infecting your machine.

Windows 98 WSH is installed if you choose a standard installation of the operating system, or if you install Internet Explorer 5, or if you download WSH from Microsoft.

To disable WSH, preventing scripts from being run:

From the Windows taskbar, select Start|Settings|Control Panel. In the 'Control Panel' screen, double-click the 'Add/Remove programs' icon. In the 'Add/Remove Programs' window, open the 'Windows Setup' tabbed page. Select 'Accessories' and double-click.

In the 'Accessories' list, find 'Windows Scripting Host'. Click on the check-box by 'Windows Scripting Host' to deselect it. Click OK to return to 'Add/Remove Programs' window. Then click on 'OK'. Restart your computer.

Windows 95 WSH is installed if you install Internet Explorer 5, or if you download WSH from Microsoft.

To prevent scripts with a .VBS extension from being run:

On the 'Desktop', or in 'Windows Explorer', right-click on 'My Computer'. Select 'Open' from the menu. In the 'My Computer' window, open the 'View' menu and select 'Options...'. Open the 'File Types' tabbed page.

Look for 'VBScript Script File' in the list of file types (if you can't find it, your machine is safe and you don't need to do anything else). Click on the 'Remove' button. If you see a dialog asking you to confirm removal, click 'Yes'. Restart your computer.

Windows NT 4.0 WSH is installed if you install Internet Explorer 5, or if you download WSH from Microsoft.

To prevent scripts with a .VBS extension from being run:

Log on as an administrator. On the 'Desktop', or in 'Windows Explorer', right-click on 'My Computer'. Select 'Open' from the menu. In the 'My Computer' window, open the 'View' menu and select 'Options'. Open the 'File Types' tabbed page.

Look for 'VBScript Script File' in the list of file types (if you can't find it, your machine is safe and you don't need to do anything else). Click on the 'Remove' button. If you see a dialog asking you to confirm removal, click 'Yes'.

Windows 2000 WSH is installed by default.

To prevent scripts with a .VBS extension from being run:

Log on as an Administrator. On the 'Desktop', or in 'Windows Explorer', right-click on 'My Computer'. Select 'Open' from the menu. In the 'My Computer' window, open the 'Tools' menu and select 'Folder Options'. Open the 'File Types' tabbed page.

Look for 'VBScript Script File' in the list of file types (if you can't find it, your machine is safe and you don't need to do anything else). Click on the 'Delete' button. If you see a dialog asking you to confirm removal, click 'Yes'. Restart your computer."

There you go.

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2000

Why are people so dumb?

Good question. I think many people just don't use common sense, and of course, it applies to computers.

Go ahead, hate me, but I've never had a virus on a computer since I started netting in '95. I've had one sent to me, but that was a request to see what the coding looked like. My virus scanner located it upon running and smacked it right off the hard drive.

I'm pretty cautious about what type of attachment files I receive in emails. Of course, all my friends know I'd just beat the crap outta them (or their computers) if they pulled a stunt. ;o)

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2000