I must agree with Mr. Needham. I use Norton Anti-Virus at home and work
and upgrade religiously. My home version of Norton came with a year's free
upgrade and when that ran out I purchased another year of upgrades from
Symantec's website (www.symantec.com) for $3.95--cheap enough even for us
poor museum professionals.
Tim Bottoms
Registrar
Cape Fear Museum
Harold Needham <[log in to unmask]>@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM> on 07/05/2000
04:46:34 AM
Please respond to Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
cc:
Subject: The virus problem
The incidence of messages carrying viruses (virii?) transmitted through
MUSEUM-L is increasing, particularly those carrying the WScriptKakWorm
virus. Inasmuch as I use a variety of means to protect my PC, these cause
me only passing annoyance, but their increasing frequency, of late,
suggests that they must be affecting numerous members of the list.
I have two recommendations:
a. to subscribers to the list:
PLEASE buy and use software to protect your PC against viruses. Both the
Norton and McAffee products are available at virtually any store that
sells computers. With Norton Anti-Virus, you get 6 months of free upgrades
(and, believe me, your protection decreases rapidly unless you get them!);
after that, it's something like $US29.95 a year. Your PC prompts you to
download and the procedure is fast and simple. If you DON'T use a good
anti-virus program, you not only run the risk of having some idiot severely
damage your PC (many viruses wipe your hard drive) but you are also placing
everyone else with whom you correspond at risk.
b. to LISTSERVE manager:
Please install ADEQUATE protection to screen uploading messages for
viruses.
Recognize that the virus protection software (for either the list manager
or your own system) always runs one pace behind developments in the virus
"industry". Many viruses are disguised as ".exe" files, you know - the
cute little graphics we all like to pass around? Well, a good number of us
have become so concerned about possible viruses that we routinely delete
those files without opening them - regardless of their sources.
Unfortunately, the virus producers are aware of this and are now using a
wider variety of file formats to infect your PC - and protection against
these is only now coming on-stream.
If we can be responsible about " safe sex", surely we can be equally
responsible about "safe computing". We are, after all, alleged to be
professionals. But I wonder....
Harry
"Those who play with cats must expect to get scratched"
- Cervantes, "Don Quixote"
Harry Needham, M.A., CFE, etc.
President
Harry Needham Consulting Services Inc.
Training & consulting services for heritage institutions - and others!
74 Abbeyhill Drive
Kanata, Ontario K2L 1H1
Canada
email: [log in to unmask]
(Voice) +1.613.831-1068
(Fax) +1.613.831-9412
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