RG> The point I was trying to make is that cookies are NOT
RG> executable files, and a virus cannot spread unless it is
RG> executed. Incidently, I've just taken a look at my cookie
RG> directories (windows and linux) and each and every one of them
RG> is marked as a "text" file.

 How about I download a shortcut file and *that* runs an EXE? I can
call my shortcut "Shortcut to bigtits.txt" but that would be a lie,
and fuckers who write viruses wouldn't lie.

> like a spreadsheet or word document...

RG> No, you cannot execute document or spreadsheet files.

 Yes you can. They have all sorts of things embedded.

RG> Perhaps you are confusing the MACROS that these files may or
RG> may not contain with the files themselves. In which case we
RG> need to ask ourselves how did the virus embed itself as a macro
RG> into these files in the first place.

 Perhaps a norty fucker like me did it.

RG> They didn't magically just happen, it can only be caused by a
RG> user running an executable that seeks out this type of file and
RG> then infects it.

 WORD also automatic macros that run when you start, open a file,
close a file, and close. Just name your embedded template macro
AutoOpen, use it to call virus.exe with VB, and WORD does it all for
you. It's the Microsoft philosophy... no brain required, and they're
jsut the brainless idiots to be writing this stuff.

 Oh.. btw. I don't use WORD to read my mail. I use a basic text
editor running in DOS.

RG> If you are referring to a secondary infection, ie, if person
RG> 'a' sends person 'b' a doc file or spreadsheet with the virus
RG> already embeded, and person 'b' foolishly opens this file
RG> without first vetting it (thus infecting other files), then I
RG> really can't see how this is any different than if person 'a'
RG> simply sent person 'b' the virus executable in the first place.

 You send mail with the extension .DOC with an attachment VIRUS.EXE.
Windows sees the DOC and opens WORD automatically, which then runs the
AutoOpen macro which calls VIRUS.EXE and no brain required to fuck
your computer. With Microsoft, there are many ways to stuff the
system.

RG> As I keep saying, viruses don't 'just happen' - it takes user
RG> input of one sort or another in order for them to spread.

 I really wish that were true, the way it *used* to be when we had
DOS, simple text editors, braindead Win31, no Explorer, and no Net.
Microsoft has made it so complicated that there must be dozens of ways
to screw the system and no brain required, either.

Regards,
Bob

--- BQWK Alpha 0.5