I don't use AOL, but even if it prevents viruses, it may still be allowing data-mining or encouraging popups later on.  An HTML e-mail can run code without displaying pictures or clicking on links, even inside AOL.  Viewing an e-mail can trigger a message (not neccesarily in e-mail form) to be sent back to where it originated that says "this is a valid e-mail address".  It may stop viruses and such like that, but the annoying and intrusive features you speak of may actually be seeding things such as popups and such.
 
    Scott
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mike Csontos
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 10:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Important info on Viruses for all to heed!!!!

In a message dated 5/22/2005 3:11:59 AM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
The only way I've found to approach safety in terms of opening
unsolicited e-mails is to use a text based system such as Linux Mail or
Pine.  This literally opens only the text of the message and does not
execute any scripting that may be including in the e-mails.  Unfortunately
it also requires access to a Linux or Unix system to read your mail.
**************
 
This is one of the main reasons I've stayed with AOL in spite of their campaign to get me to leave, with a steady stream of undesired and intrusive features.  Nothing is downloaded until opened. Spam is well filtered. Images and links are disabled unless specifically enabled and downloads are manual and isolated until intentionally opened.
 
In ten years, I've never encountered a virus. Of course most of my browsing is at commercial and academic web sites and I've never downloaded games or porno.
 
Mike Csontos
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