In a message dated 2001-12-12 1:55:07 Pacific Standard Time,
jameskass@worldnet.att.net writes:
> Any operating system worthy of the name wouldn't process any
> kind of virus and ISPs should live up to their obligation of
> Providing Service and bounce any message containing a virus.
A virus that would be processed *by the operating system* is just an
executable program. It would be extremely difficult -- "impossible" is a
word we all try to avoid -- to detect, before running a program, whether it
replicates itself and/or causes harmful side effects. That is the job of
anti-virus software. And Microsoft is now finding itself in legal trouble
for bundling "extras" like anti-virus software into their operating systems
and thereby driving specialized companies out of business.
Both of the systems I use run Microsoft OS's (Windows 95 (!) at home and 2000
at work), and yet I almost never get affected by these viruses. At home I
use CompuServe 5.0, and at work I use Lotus cc:Mail 8.5. Neither of these
e-mail clients will download, let alone execute, any attachment (including a
virus) without user intervention. The gatekeeper for e-mail viruses is the
e-mail client, not the operating system.
As Clive Hohberger said, Microsoft Outlook is the preferred target for e-mail
viruses, not only because it is the "biggest and most symbolic target around"
but also because it is the closest thing there is to a "standard" e-mail
client. Imagine writing an e-mail virus that sent itself to everyone in your
CompuServe address book, or your cc:Mail address book. That would be like
crashing an airplane into a dollhouse.
-Doug Ewell
Fullerton, California
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Wed Dec 12 2001 - 10:59:10 EST