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 ]

[Gryphin]

Background Information, (over simplified):
Not having anti virus protection is like not putting oil in your car. At some point your system is going to crash and you might take someone down with you.
Email viruses work by:
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
You have just activated the virus and you don't even know it.
The virus goes through your address book
Frequently it Takes a random name from your address book and places it on the From line
It then Sends an email with the infecting attachment to as many people on your list as possible. It arrives "From" the name it selected.
The most common virus of this nature is the, "Klez". There are many many Versions of it.
The current virus that is spreading is "Big Boss".
Eventually these viruses will do some form of damage including but not limited to leaving your system open for participation in Denial of Service attacks on another computer and eventually cleaning your hard drive.
I hope this helps folks.

[ January 20, 2003, 12:09: Message edited by: Gryphin ]

[dumbluck]

There are some free Anti-Virus programs out there. I don't know how they stack up to the big 2 though (Norton and McAfee)

[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