General Chat

Diane, That's terrible! I don't know what sort of people send out this filth. There could be young children using the pc there sending it to. Although my children use the computer,they don't open any emails without checking with us first,but some of their friends have their own email addresses. The people that send these things out with a total disregard to whose recieving them,make me sick. Diane

Hello everyone, About these viruses, the other evening I was checking my e-mails and there was one from a geocities, I thought it was to do with my genealogy sites, and clicked on it, and if I did, I could not get it off my screen,it was naked women. So all I could think of to do was Ctrl/Alt and Delete, and shut my PC down which worked thank goodness. I then logged back on and went straight to Block sender, but another three came in all different names but I blocked them also. I am fed up with every morning you log on and there they are how to have your tiddly winks enlarged, I just block them as usual but they are a nuisance. I do have Norton Anti Virus, which gets rid of most. What else can one do??? Diane................

Hi Elaine, If you haven't got a firewall, it might be an idea to get one of those too. ZoneAlarm is a free one from www.zonelabs(.)com. For good measure I also have WinPatrol www.winpatrol(.)com and Spybot Search andDestroy http://download(.)com(.)com/3000-2144-10122137(.)html?part=104443&subj=dlpage&tag=button. It's probably overkill, but since installing them all a few months ago, I've hardly had any trouble with spam or strange toolbars and diallers being installed or any of the other things I used to get. Norton picked up an attempt by the Klez worm afew weeks ago, but apart from that I've had nothing. And if that's not enough (who said I'm paranoid?) I keep my Windows Patches up-to-date. I know from bitter experience how bad it is to have my whole system go down as a result of a virus....and in those days I didn't back up my data, so about two years work on my family tree went with it! Sue

I have just discovered that the bloke who fitted & upgraded my comp. Diddn't install me the anti virus prog, (free one) that he said he would !!! so Iv'e just downloaded a free anti virus programme (AVG anti virus system) from the www(.)freebiersclub(.)co(.)uk THEY ALSO HAVE FREE FAMILY TREE SOFTWARE TOO !!!! The site is FREE to join, & has a section for free software & utilities. (also other freebies & samples which i've recieved) Iv'e just done a check & i'm virus free !!! Phew' a very relieved Elaine x

There are two problems regarding computers and the internet. Spam is basically advertising, same as the junk mail that comes through your letter box. It is normally harmless, but may be offensive as a lot is advertising for pornographic web sites or materials. Delete it, do not reply to anything, especially if it says "Click here if you do not want us to contact again", as this confirms your e-mail address as valid and your address is then passed on to other spammers. Viruses are malicious programmes, usually in an e-mail attachment, which will cause you computer problems and will send itself to persons you have listed in your address book. In general they can be stopped by having an anti-virus programme installed. These can be obtained free e.g. from Halifax, or for about £35 a year you can get a package which contains both anti-virus and a "firewall" which stops unauthorised persons trying to access your computer. An example is "Norton Internet Security".

NO Without sounding too dim, is it something to do with spam? e x

Elaine, I you receive any more, you've got the format by now, and you don't know who it's from...my advice is just delete it. But remember to delete it from your "Deleted items" file as well. That way there is no fear of opening it accidentally. Don't open the attachment at all. Do you use mail washer at all?

Regarding the address book. Someone left a tip on one of these boards a while back to put AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaA in as the first address in your address book, as this confuses the "worm" & stops it travelling through your address book. By the way i'm on windows 98. elaine x

Hello all... Iv'e got no more of those emails this morning. I deleted every one that I recieved, & from my deleted Items folder. Just dont open anything that you dont recognise. If I need to reply to an email from a g.c. member in future I'll put ---Elaine from genesconnected in the subject box. Maybe we can all do the same. Elaine x

http://www.symantec(.)com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.mimail.e (at) mm(.)html PS. Remove the brackets and replace the 'at' with @

It would be a good idea if anybody else who has received an email like the one Elaine describes and has opened the attachment runs a check on their computer, because they're probably infected. The attachment is in a Zip file called 'read now'. Symantec http://www.symantec(.)com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.mimail.e(@)mm(.)html has a removal tool if you've been infected. The trouble is with email worms is that they often 'harvest' email addresses from computers they've infected, then send the virus to the addresses they've found. The sender address is often spoofed, so people don't know where they've been sent from and very often people don't know their computer has been compromised. Sue

I have had 3 of these so far. DELETE them immediately. DO NOT open the attachment The same goes for any attachment received from someone you dont know. If someone on here offers to send you an image, ask them to put a certain phrase of your choosing in the subject line, then you will know it is genuine. Also, anyone offering to send images (census) suggest that the recipient give you a subject phrase so they know it is from you. Anyone who is genuine will understand

It's a worm called W32/Mimail.e@MM. The following site has details: http://us.mcafee(.)com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=description&virus_k=100797 Sue

Elaine, Check your anti virus is up to date, as I have just recieved an email with a virus that Norton picked up. Didn't see who sent it. Just going to sort it out! KIm

Elaine, If your virus software isn't picking it up it's probably porno spam. Crista

Just got home, No more mail from "john". will check again tomorrow bye for now elaine x

Trouble is if you block sender they just try again with a different email address Margaret

elaine try blocking sender susie

Elaine Just keep deleting it, I have had spam mail from the same person over and over, DELETE Margaret

The message has just been sent again this time with this at the end... Ixolojto im getting worried now as this person is getting persistant. e x