Perhaps it's because I am a recalcitrant and a rabbble-rouser, but I have been getting 'malicious' e-mails of late from 'persons' masquerading as well-known providers with sleazy attachments. Or perhaps some individuals don't like certain providers. My computer is running, so 'no harm, no foul'. I've queried the masqueraded senders, one of whom pointed out the damn message was sent at 4AM ! Although, some e-mail systems are a bit pokey, that sounds fishy.

If you leave off your e-mail addy (that must be how I wuz found), then you look less credible. If you read mail on the web and only download the text portion of messages, computer viruses shouldn't even arrive 'at your doorstep'. Of course, have an anti-virus program that is UP-TO DATE and checks e-mails especially of you download mail to your computer via Outlook or Outlook Express.

PS If you want to be a good neighbor, don't send e-mails as HTML use Plain Text if fancy features are not essential or Rich Text Format (.rtf) otherwise. 'HTML is a page description language, so HTML cannot contain viruses; however, embedded scripts and active content components can, often producing disastrous results' Mastering Outlook 2000, Courter & Marquis, Sybex Books, 1999. p 444

Although Security Zones can be configured with to control this accross IE,Outlook & Outlook Express, it simply cannot be assumed that all recipients of your messages have taken those steps.

-- Modified on 12/18/2002 5:12:40 AM

-- Modified on 12/18/2002 5:32:31 AM