1237a6565108
tech



Hello Wayne - 

--8<--cut 

WC>> Haven't figured out how to completely block trojans and
WC>> viruses on the 98 box while 

Trojans are basically macros. Javascripted into an email and
then read within a windows program that interprets javascipt
and HTML. I kill off any HTML emails. In Eudora they are
included as attachments along with the text version. I read the
text and ignore the HTML emails. 

Microsoft's MSWord has macros and they were originally used for
trojans before javascript came along. Change the
file-associations (now called MIME types) to not automatically
load into MSWord. 

Microsoft also upgraded WORDPAD.EXE to use MSWord macros (dumb
move) so that wordpad associations are bad too - change those. 

Using MS Outlook is asking for trouble IMO. I wouldn't use it
myself on my own machines. At work you have no choices if
that's what they want you to use. I would use Eudora (free
version) or a real POP3 email program that doesn't
automatically open my mail and doesn't automatically prefer the
HTML version over the text version. 

AVG virus scanner works for Alan Zisman and he's dealing with
children accessing the Internet and trying to mess up the
school's computers. :-) ZoneAlarm works. Both are free. 

The majority of virus and trojans still originate with computer
games, porno sites, and other places where teenage children
congregate. Avoid those areas or be very very suspicious when
you are there or download anything from those websites. 

If anyone sends you software for any reason scan the heck out
of it with AVG and F-Protect before loading it to your hard
drive and installing it. Even a good friend could inadvertently
send you an infected file without knowing it. People mess up
daily. :-\ 

WC>> I've managed it quite nicely on the Windows 3.1 box
WC>> without antivirus software. 

Isn't it a pleasure to be out of the line of fire? W31 can be
attacked quite easilly but children don't care about W31. They
hate daddy's, mommy's, and teacher's computer OS and want to
see it fail. 

Linux can be attacked as well contrary to the folklore and
fantasy. Denial of service by overloading your ISP and
port-scanning seem to dominate the Linux children's available
time. I doubt there are as many Linux systems available to them
just yet. There will be more children using Linux soon. 

RJT>> I never could see the sense of taking _data_ and
RJT>> _running_ it! That seems to be at the root of a lot of
RJT>> those kinds of problems. Things like email attachements
RJT>> that you execute, 

RJT> > etc. 

The javascript or MSWord macros automatically execute. You
don't need to execute them, just load them. 

WC>> Yeah but the newer stuff is self executing inserting a key
WC>> into the registry and it has built in SMTP and scans and
WC>> incorporates your address book into it's SMTP. 

All trojans do not focus on popmail and all are not that
elaborate. 

RJT>> Windoze design... 

WC> Yeah that which renders it user friendly to those without
WC> skills also renders it vulnerable. I've got to check my
WC> settings in NS mail and see what they are before going to
WC> the other ISP. AOL loused up the Netscape browser and to a
WC> lesser extent newsgroups and mail. Found a decent tutorial
WC> site on Linux on the web, quite comprehensive and fairly
WC> readable for the newbie. 

Putting your real email address into any browser makes you
vulnerable to spammers. 

WC> In a couple of days now I'll take another run at splitting
WC> this drive with FIPS and getting back at it, either that or
WC> cut a piece of plywood and move the NEC onto that stereo
WC> stand and place it next to the cart the H.P.'s on. Now with
WC> this 56K modem getting 50K or better connects it's time to
WC> turn on the juice a little and setup whatever release I
WC> want straight off the Linux net mirrors. 

You can with little effort create an install that you will
avoid backing up and find yourself attempting to unravel a huge
ball of string. This is a popular 'sport' for Linux users to
just put everything onto the hard drive and then attempt to
find the bits and pieces and get it to unravel. There have been
a few messages posted recently by those who charged in and
downloaded pre-alpha versions of Linux code and can find
little/no help in unraveling it (it's too new). 

Personally I would try to determine what was useable and stable
when the hardware was new and start from there. If the oldest
was too limiting I would research the next release and so on
but I would not overload the hardware and find myself where W9x
users have been too often - with an OS too demanding for the
hardware available. 

My W31 is enjoyable to use because the hardware is several
generations beyond what W31 was written to use. The hardware is
not stressed, ever. :-) 

--8<--cut 

WC> They need to, unbelieveable stuff in there these days,
WC> really looks Sci-Fi to me it's come so far. A lot of
WC> familiar stuff as well. 

I felt that way after a decade had passed and I discovered
surface mount and read some projects gluing them to business
cards and writing the 'trace' with a lead pencil. It seemed
like black magic! With my previous eyesight this would've been
right up my alley. Too bad it took so long to develop. :-\ 

WC> There were a number of pages of high grade UPS's in there
WC> designed for servers at a little over double the price of
WC> one to be had at a computer shop. 

The San Diego company I mentioned in another message also sells
used UPS at ridiculously low prices. 

WC> Currently e-mailing myself a file attach 6 meg compilation
WC> of JPG's across the room a distance of ten feet. 

You need null cables until your networking is established. 

>
>        ,                          ,
>      o/      Charles.Angelich      \o       ,
>       __o/
>     / >          USA, MI           < \   __\__
 

___ * ATP/16bit 2.31 * 
... DOS the Ghost in the Machine! http://www.undercoverdesign.com/dosghost/

--- Maximus/2 3.01