[SixClub] Need Help with the Six Meter Club

[K8RI on 50MHz]

Hi Mark,

I'm answering this on the reflector as I think computer security affects us
all and certainly those on the reflector are using computers.


> de K8RI:
> I can't imagine anyone accepting zipped attachments on e-mail and
practicing
> safe computing.
> Mine automatically flushed zipped attachments and most HTML comes through
as
> a blank page as I have it set to text only.  Links are also disabled but
can
> be copied and pasted.
>
> de AA6DX
> Hey Rog ... believe it!  Golly, I've only been computing for 21 years now

Quit work in 87 and went back to college full time.
Degree is BS in CS with minors in Art and Math.
Worked 6 1/2 years and retired from a job as a computer systems project
manager in 96.

> ...retired (sort of)from the biz.   I have no problems EVER with zipped
> files .. I can scan them with Norton (fill in your brand of choice) if I

I've never had any problems with them, but I don't trust them. Likewise I
use Norton and Winzip.  OTOH I have recevied viruses and worms disguised as
legit zip files.
Two years ago I received over 260 viruses and worms. That's almost one a
day, but I've never had a system infected.

> feel the need, and my WinZip 9 lets me take a peek before I unpack the
pics
> ...   I get about 200 emails a day.  I think you're not doing it right.
> Now mind you, I am not talking about off of lists (reflectors) --- most
list
> operators do not allow other than plain text anyhow.   I am talking about,
> like for instance, my sending you a picture of my new hamshack.
> Trying to remember any time ever having a problem like you seem to be
> referring.  Never have.

I typically receive about half that now days. Only 7 spam yesterday and
those were mainly to my newsgroup address.
My rule is to never open any attachment unless verified.  IOW If I receive
an atachment from some one I know, even with a description, I will e-mail
them back requesting confirmation before opening the atachment even if a
simple JPG.

I do not read HTML e-mail files. Setting them to text only elimintaes "auto
answer and verify" to spam checking your computer and address out.  If I can
credit anything with the reduction in spam "I think" it is changing my
e-mail reader to text only.  That is one of the reasons I use OE instead of
Outlook.  When running text only the embeded links/images/web bugs do not
get the chance to run, or call home.  You basically drop off their screen
when you get rid of HTML e-mail even if it does look nice.  At least the
ARRL will send to text only, but the EAA and NRA have very elaborate e-mail
which comes as HTML.  Too bad I only see a small portion of it.

All the automatic stuff that runs when you receive atachments is turned off.
I have to manually run any atachments and can do so after running them
through Norton, or as you say, what ever virus checker.

I believe the new SP-2 for XP is going to set the defaults to basically the
way I have mine set with two exceptions. I will not be using XP's fire wall.
I don't trust it...yet. They are going to have to prove it's safe. Nor will
I let the machine update automatically.  I want to review anything that is
going to be installed. Of course I don't trust MS and their ethics any way
but that is a different issue.  I'll purchase the CD before turning on auto
updates.

Those who use Macros that run on received docs, be they word processors,
spread sheets, or databases are going to be in for a rude awakening.  I
would bet they are going to have to be seperate instead of integral with the
above data.

>
> BTW --- the Adobe Acrobat 6+ program sure makes for swell email
attachments,
> too.  There are other brands of Portable Document File software, but I
sure
> am impressed with the latest updates to Acrobat.
>
Likewise, but I use Adobe 6+ Pro.  I just feed it a word doc and set back
and watch it go through it's computational gymnastics.  You have the added
security of knowing it's much more difficult for the document to be tampered
with as well. Of course no program or document is completely hack proof.  My
only complaint about PDFs is their size. They are not huge and I think they
are smaller than many word docs, but still big.

I also regularly scan the system for viruses, bugs, trojans, and other
termites.

73 to all and don't forget to pratice safe conputing.

Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
www.rogerhalstead.com
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> SixClub mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/sixclub
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
> Post: mailto:SixClub at mailman.qth.net
>