Please Read

[Atrocities]

I want to thank all of you for all the emails. I get on average about ten to fifteen a day. Occationally I will receive files with these emails containing SEIV game files or other documents that are SEIV related.

Once in a blue moon one of these files will trip the anti-virus program. This has become an increasingly regular problem for me now, and I am at the point where I must begin filtering/blocking people who keep sending me these files. I sincerely doubt it is intentional, but they have elected to ignor my advisory warnings that they are sending infected files.

Today I received two such files, one from someone I know from here, the other from someone I do not know. I notified them both of the possible infection to their systems, and both have responded confirming infection.

That prompted me to want to take this more pro-active approach and to advise people that a strong anti-virus program would be a good investment for your PC health. Especially if your going to be sending others SEIV files, and such.

I don't know how virus's would effect PBW player PC's, but I would suspect that they could.

So please, take the time and money and invest in preventing the spread of PC virusis. Thanks.

[Ruatha]

I don't know how virus's would effect PBW player PC's, but I would suspect that they could.

PLR files shouldn't be able to be infected.
Ofcourse if they are called .PLR.EXE or something that might be an issue.
But as noone tries to open PLR files that shouldn't be a problem, the only way they are opened is supposedly by the program as it runs the turns.
So an upload virus is not propable.

A download virus is possible in the packed ZIP files but that should propably spread to all turns that are sent out and so be detected very soon, as alot of people uses good AV programs.

So to avoid PBW for fear of virus is overreacting.

(Yes, I see that you aren't advicing people to avoid PBW, I'm just clarifying)

[ January 20, 2003, 11:57: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[couslee]

somethings, you should not qualm about price. virus protection, and mayonaise are two. don't get free or generic of either one. it's just not worth it.

[geoschmo]

Although homemade mayonaise is quite good. Eggs, oil, and a few seconds with a stick blender, yumm.

Homemade virus protection though, that's probably harder.

Geoschmo

[Phoenix-D]

You receive an email with an attachment. Frequently this email is from someone you know and trust.
You double click it thinking it is a valid file"

I've been running without AV for quite a long time now. I install one and check for viruses every so often; only one has ever gotten to me, and -that- was an immediately obvious one. The usual virus trick doesn't work on me.

Tips for files:
1. if you aren't expecting a file, ASK. Viruses are quite sneaky and can spoof file names and even email names.

2. If you are running Windows, make sure to uncheck "hide file extensions" this on-by-default features causes more headcahes than it solves. Many viruses hide their package in things like Blah.jpg.exe. With hide file extensions on, you only see the first extension, so you think its an image file.

Phoenix-D

[Wardad]

You should not be on the internet without a firewall protection program.
My Norton Internet protection suite has caught many trojan horse download attempts. Some happened while logged on to PBW. It probably doesn't matter what site you log on to.
The Trojan horses are real bad news. They can give an outsider access to your system. They can get your financial information or maybe just enough information to pretend to be you. They could download a virus just for fun too.

[Andr�s]

I don't think free antiviruses are that bad. And sure it's better to have a free one than nothing at all.
I can't spend much in an anti virus, and with our devaluated exchange rate anything made by a foreing develorper is too expensive. So it's either a free one, or a pirated Version of a comercial one.
I've been using AVG for some time, and I'm quite satisfied with the results.
For example yesterday it detected two Klez Messages in my inbox. (Not that I wouldn't have recognized them without it)

Anyway the antivirus is just the second line of defense, the first is being careful with any file you recive, download or get on your floppy drives.

BTW home made mayonaise is good when its fresh, and it's actually the exemption that confirms the rule that says homemade food, free of artifical flavors, colors and other additives is healthier.

[Ryan]

I use Hotmail and it is impossible to send me a virus through an internet browser so I am pretty much protected. Outlook Express seems to automaticly download all the Messages AND attachments to my hard-drive so I quit using it a while back. I can detect most viruses just by looking at the subject it is usually something to the effect of "Hi, i show cool game to you" like someone who barely knows proper English. Whenever I open a virus email in my internet explorer browser it just looks like a big blank area, so I know it is a virus. If I ever do get a virus I can just format my hard-drive. I have most of my emergency files on zip-disks and disks and know how to install new hardware and etc. Since I got my new 93.1GB hard-drive (on the box it says it is an 80GB hard-drive) I know pretty much all I need to know how to install hardware. So I guess I am pretty safe. OR AM I!?!?! *DUN DUN DUN EVIL MUSIC* How will I be able to sleep at night knowing I do not have an anti-virus program!?? *DUN DUN DUUUUUNNNN MORE EVIL MUSIC* Eh, I'll live.

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Ryan:
it is impossible to send me a virus through an internet browser

Is this based on your own settings or setup? I would have though it would be possible to get a virus this way. I once found a virus despite have an up to date Version of Norton and a Firewall. :-( At the time I kind of assumed I must have got it off a website since e-mail virus are pretty easy to spot.

[Atrocities]

Klez Messages are the bulk of the type that I get.