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Also see: How to avoid getting a virus in your computer
Before 2002/08/05, if your computer caught a virus and sent it to me, probably while you were looking at the AntiVirus page or the IYT page or any of the many hundreds of pages at my site with an e-mail address on them, I'd probably have sent you this friendly e-mail letter...
Hi! I believe your computer may have caught a computer virus. I have good reason to suspect this as it has tried to send me a virus. Don't worry - I know it's not your fault! It's very easy to catch a computer virus, usually because of nasty things in attachments, leaving ActiveX security holes, etc. Of course once it's got a virus, your machine will send it to lots of other people. I may be able to help, as I have some anti-virus software links at www.zyra.org.uk/virus.htm , and also I have some helpful information on how to prevent viruses in future at www.zyra.org.uk/avirus.htm I wish you luck is removing the virus from your machine. You are welcome to reply to this e-mail. Please reply! Regards, Zyra www.zyra.org.uk Over a thousand pages at www.zyra.org.uk/sindex.htm PS. So many times have I received viruses and written to people in this friendly style to politely inform them, that this has become a "standard letter". However you are welcome to reply and I will try to respond to you personally. |
But then on 2002/08/04, I received this, (which is typical of viruses)...
----- Original Message ----- From: ausbet To: iyt2 @ zyra.org.uk Sent: Sunday, August 04, 2002 11:06 PM Subject: goldfish Hi Dear Check the attach See u |
So I replied with the usual friendly letter. The recipient should have been pleased I had been so vigilant as to send a warning. But no, and I was somewhat shocked to receive this...
| -----
Original Message ----- From: ausbet To: ZYRA Sent: Monday, August 05, 2002 12:30 PM Subject: Re: Your machine has just tried to send me a virus! The virus that did infect my computer used my stored emails to re-infect AND YOU WERE NOT IN THERE SO THE ONLY PEOPLE TO NOW I HAD A VIRUS WERE MY EMAIL LISTS AND THE ORIGINAL SENDER SO CONSIDERING YOU ARE AND WILL NEVER BE ON MY EMAIL LISTING THAT LEAVES ONLY ONE OPTION {COPY OF YOUR EMAIL SENT TO IPRIMUS AND DODO THEY WOULD LOVE TO CHECK YOU OUT |
I must admit I do feel sorely aggrieved at this, being accused of sending a virus, especially as I was trying to help. It's not much thanks for trying to be helpful, is it!? I wrote back and pointed out such things as the fact that I'd not say "please reply" if I was a virus-writer, nor would I have a page of anti-virus measures designed to help people defend themselves against viruses. Plus, crime-fighting links and the Rogues Gallery of Suspicious E-Mails including various specific anti-scam items, and the sheer size and general positivity and good humour of the site, the picture is hardly the profile of a virus-writer, is it?!
But no reply was forthcoming. If the person had apologised, simply admitting having made a mistake, it wouldn't have been so bad. But I received no replies to any of the e-mails I sent. I can only presume that the person is too proud to admit having made a mistake, or maybe that they've subsequently rashly accused a lifeguard of trying to drown them, or a police officer of trying to burgle them, and ended up being put out of action in some unfortunate incident.
Of course the real losers on this are all the folk out there who still have viruses, because I have stopped sending these warning letters now. So, if you've got a virus, that's sad, and you'd better get some anti-virus software