E-main virus danger

[KCW]

Hi list,
	First, this is not a virus.  It's simply another security problem
with email program that comes with free web browsers.  Basically it's a
buffer overflow problem with email headers and it's very dangerous.  By
attaching a very long filename someone can make your computer execute any
commands (like formating your harddrive!).  Or it can make your program
crash even if you don't open the email.  Microsoft came up with one patch
but it was flowed.  I don't know if they came up with a real patch but if
enough people are interested, I can try to find it and post.
	I'm sure there're more security bugs in email programs by
Microsoft and Netscape.  A better solution would be to use unix shell
email programs.  They have a long history plus you'll never have to wait
for your email program to download mail from your ISP.  Ask your internet
consultant about using unix shell email programs.

regards,

Kuang
On Tue, 4 Aug 1998, Avery Todd wrote:

> Hi Richard,
> 
>    I agree that most "alerts" are hoaxes. The e-mail "potential" problem
> that Warren and I both posted about are not. I still have the information
> about it that I offered if you would like it. It's about 12K long so I
> won't post it unless someone requests it.
>    Thanks for reminding people of this and posting the URL.
> 
> Averyh
> 
> >http://www.ncsa.com/services/consortia/anti-virus/alerthoax.html
> >
> >Check this before worrying about "virus alerts"  most are hoaxes.  Plus if
> >it IS real, and 99.9 percent are NOT, it gives emergency precautions, and
> >urls to get fixes.
> >
> >
> >PASTED from above WEB SITE
> >
> >___________________________________________________________________________
> >_
> >Why Hoax Pages, they're not viruses right ?
> >
> >
> >The ICSA virus lab serves many functions. Not only do we certify antivirus
> >products, we are also a source of reliable independent information. This
> >means that we are in no way associated with any vendor of any anti-virus