posted August 18, 2004 10:10 AM         

NOTE: This was actually someone else's real e-mail address on this site, so it was deleted. It's a moot point anyway, since viruses replicate e-mail addresses and spoof them, so the .com file can be coming from anyone--Randall

Which appears to be a 'made-up' address. The subject was 'hi', and the message was 'i hope it's not true'. It also contains an attachment, a small program named 'disco.com'.

(hint: things that end in '.com' are not always websites, mmmkay?)

I have no doubt whatsoever that if I were to run disco.com, some funny things would start happening on my computer. Fortunately, I have the option of running it or not, so I just deleted the e-mail. I'm not entirely sure how programs like Outlook Express, or AOL/MSN/Yahoo mail work, but I have always had the impression (since they try to do everything for you, so you don't have to think) that at least some of them will run whatever's attached to an e-mail message automatically. In any case, be on the lookout for an e-mail that matches this description, and if you get it, delete it immediately. You run a .com file, it's capable of doing anything it wants to your computer, and it'll be your own damn fault because *you* chose to run it.

I will refrain from going into a rant here about how people who use computers but refuse to learn much of anything about them are like people who drive cars and don't know how to check the oil or change a tire. Or how the big computer companies like keeping people ignorant and dependent on their software.

What really ticks me is that judging by the made-up username, "astrochick", someone is targeting those of us interested in astrology. So if they found my e-mail address, they may find yours. So I thought I should give you all a heads-up.

posted August 18, 2004 10:40 AM           

Get offa my lawn...er...hard-drive ya punks!

posted August 18, 2004 01:40 PM         

Irish, LOL... funny

posted August 19, 2004 03:43 AM         

*******************************************
“Hey!

So here's a weird thing - I don't post here and you don't know me - BUT - my email addy is astrochick@rogers.com!!!

Rainbow, a friend of mine, sent me a link to this page, which was how I found out about this disco.com thing. I will look into how it could be that a suspicious email orginiated from my computer. I have been getting many strange "spam" type emails with subjects and stuff that look like it would be something I wanted, except if I open it its for Viagara or whatever. Obviously my machine is full of spy-ware or something...

Anyway, like I said, I'll look into it, but as an FYI that email addy is real, but I haven't knowingly sent anything to any of you.

Astrochick”

posted August 19, 2004 04:13 AM         

Woo Hoo! Somewhere along the line I hit 1000 posts!

posted August 19, 2004 07:49 AM         

Thanks Rainbow, for posting that message!
I just wanted to let you guys know that a) I AM a real person (but that has been kindly cleared up) and b) there was no bad intent from me in terms of deliberatley sending out viruses.

I used Ad Aware last night (thanks Paras for the suggestion, though I already knew about it!) I had recently reformatted my hard drive and forgot to reinstall AdAware. It found over 4000 *bad* files. YIKES!!! One of them was that netsky worm - and since it replicates by email I am wondering if I inadvertantly infected you, Rainbow, and if you then passed it along the chain? Maybe you should install and run AdAware too????

Anyway, that's the end of that, I hope. I've been relying on my ISPs firewall, but I guess I should shell out for something better!