emead
4q2
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-04
Danbury, CT
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| Stop viruses from latching onto your address book
Just found this tip to pass on, don't know if it's been posted before so here goes,
This tip won't prevent YOU from getting any viruses (you have to scan those attachments yourself before opening them to do that), but it will stop those viruses from latching onto your address book and sending itself out to others.
To avoid spreading computer viruses, create a contact in your email
address book with the name : !0000 with no email address in the details.
This contact will then show up as your first contact. If a virus
attempts to do a "send all" on your contact list, your pc will put up an
error message saying that: "The Message could not be sent. One or more
recipients do not have an e-mail address. Please check your Address
Book and make sure all the recipients have a valid e-mail address." You
click on OK and the offending (virus) message would not have been sent
to anyone. Of course no changes have been made to your original contacts
list. The offending (virus) message may then be automatically stored in
your "Drafts" or "Outbox" folder. Go in there and delete the offending
message. Problem is solved and virus is not spread. Try this and pass on
to your email contacts.
--
I gave up searching for the Truth, Now I'm looking for a good Fantasy! |
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Ray
Mahnahmahna
Premium
join:2001-04-02
Mesa, AZ |  Cool tip! I'm going to implement it right away. You wouldn't happen to know the original source, would you?
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I meant to do that. |
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the immortal one
join:2001-07-27
S.E.MI.
clubs: 
| reply to emead
I'm glad you posted this. I did this same thing a number of years ago, but I named the first entry in my address book to display *Welcome to Contacts* and entered no e-mail address. I can say that it does work. I have also entered the same in a number of my friends' address books, and more than a few have called me asking what the 'Message could not be sent' error message was all about. Simple but effective. |
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Kalford
Seems To Be An Rtfm Problem.
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-20
Ontario
| reply to emead
That is a great tip for preventing the spread of viruses that utilize the outlook engine for sending emails, and for viruses that choose to send the first x number of contacts the virus. (once you've opened the virus already, which of course not doing so is a better prevention)
However, for viruses (like sircam) that harvest addresses from multiple sources or others that randomly harvest from the address book(s) and also contain their own smtp engines (again sircam) to send the email this will probably not prove very effective.
Still gets a thumbs up, as its a new one to me and every little things helps 
--
There are many beautiful things you will find when you shut your mouth and open up your mind
[text was edited by author 2001-08-21 19:37:27] |
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GeekJedi
RF is Good For You
Premium
join:2001-06-21
Mukwonago, WI
clubs:
 ·CenturyLink
 ·VOIPo
·Vonage
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Sure, I post this same tip a few weeks ago...nobody thumbed me... *sniff* 
»A way to stop viruses cold!
I use it and it works!!
--
I send you this file in order to have your advise. |
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La Luna
Surviving Ashraful
Premium
join:2001-07-12
Warwick, NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
·Vonage
| reply to emead
Question: Is this just a back up thing? I mean if you are using an anti-virus program, how would the virus get access to your address book? If that's the case, sounds good to me. It can't hurt.
Rodgering--Very intelligent response. To bad we can't all be rocket scientists.
[text was edited by author 2001-08-21 22:14:46] |
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BuggSpy
Pet Me
Premium
join:2001-01-24
Canada
| reply to emead
Excellent tip emead. Thumbs up!
Sorry fuffer, must have been posted while I was on vacation. You'd have gotten my vote
--
Of all the things I've lost in life, I miss my mind the most! |
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Moskal43
join:2001-01-19
Des Moines, IA
clubs: | reply to GeekJedi
fuffer what the heck. You get a thumbs up from me!!! |
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jaykaykay
4 Ever Young
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-13
Scottsdale, AZ
·Speakeasy
| reply to emead
What a stroke of genius! Thanks to both of you who posted it!!!;););)
***However, do keep in mind that if you have more than one address book, it won't work. It's only good for a single addressbook...not multiples, which OLE allows.
[text was edited by author 2001-08-22 00:48:47] |
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seqrets
Premium
join:2001-05-03
Nederland, TX
clubs: | reply to emead
Great info from you both! |
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Muttbutt
Premium
join:2001-01-16
Ormond Beach, FL
| reply to GeekJedi
Sorry fuffer, I missed your earlier post. Good job by both of you. Very good info!
Yes I know as well as most everyone here, don't open attachments. However, it's going to happen. If we were perfect, there would be no need for DSLR, that gives us the much needed help and advice.
This is just one more small way to keep the bad guys from winning.
Jim
--
"Wouldn't it be nice if we could lose our temper and never find it?" John S.
Shay, Sr.
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GeekJedi
RF is Good For You
Premium
join:2001-06-21
Mukwonago, WI
clubs:
·CenturyLink
·VOIPo
·Vonage
·RoadRunner Cable
| You guys are too nice! I really wasn't trolling for "thumbs"...just making a joke! Thanks for the thumbs-up though!!
--
I send you this file in order to have your advise. |
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ShinyTop8
S T I
Premium
join:2001-05-08
Pensacola, FL
| reply to emead
Great tip.
Now I got my first ever virus earlier this week. It sent mail to many of my contacts, but I think it used addresses from my sent list since many it sent to were now bad addresses. I knew this since I got notified by mail admin.
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You don't stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing. |
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