Newsletter Archives - E-mail Viruses and Worms: The Catch-All Phrase "Computer Virus"





PO Box 5315 Sioux City, Iowa 51102 Phone (712) 277-8535 Fax (712) 277-3720

Newsletter #N_D1000

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Michelle Kirkpatrick, CSR, RPR Freelance Deposition Reporter 712-277-8535

E-mail Viruses and Worms
The Catch-All Phrase "Computer Virus"
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Several times in the last year, computer viruses have found their way to the headlines of the evening news. You may have heard about trojan horses and Internet worms. Even though these computer threats have fundamental differences, the news media will sometimes classify various types of malicious codes as "viruses."

Worms

A worm is a program that makes copies of itself using e-mail or some other transport mechanism. It may do damage and compromise the security of your computer.
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Although PrettyPark.worm was originally spread in May of 1999, a new variant of the PrettyPark Worm was discovered on February 18, 2000, and has infected many computers in our area as recently as last month. Happy99.exe is another e-mail worm that seems to keep coming back around.
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Most worms, including the two mentioned above, are spread as attachments to emails: a joke program or software of some sort. Once the attachment is "opened" or executed (not just the opening of the e-mail itself), then new e-mails with the same attachment are sent out automatically from the infected user's email client unbeknownst to them. "Fixes" for most of these pesky little worms are available once the problem is identified to keep the worm from spreading, although not without spending a little time and effort.
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Most computer users are aware that if they receive an attachment from an unknown source, they should not open it. However, another good rule of thumb to follow is, do not open an e-mail attachment, even if sent from someone you know, unless you know the purpose of their sending the file and you know that they're aware they sent it to you!
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Virus Hoaxes
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Far more often than receiving an e-mail worm will you receive forwarded e-mail notifications regarding particular "viruses" that are nothing more than hoaxes. You should ignore any messages of this kind and not pass them on, as it only serves to further propagate them. Symantec AntiVirus Research Center has a page that you can bookmark to readily verify the names of these virus hoaxes that you may run across in e-mail write-ups: http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/hoax.html
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For more information on viruses, worms, their "fixes," and antivirus software, visit Symantec at http://www.sarc.com.

The Lighter Side of Life
Recipe of the Month

Linguine with Artichokes

From the Colorado Cache Cookbook, Twelfth Edition, page 215
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1/4 cup olive oil                   1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 cup butter                     2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1    teaspoon flour               1 teaspoon minced parsley
1    cut chicken stock             salt and pepper to taste
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8    artichoke hearts, cooked and drained
2   tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1   teaspoon drained capers
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1   pound linguine, cooked
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2   TBS. olive oil                   1   TBS. softened butter
1   TBS. Parmesan cheese   1/4 teaspoon salt
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In a large, heavy skillet heat 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup butter over moderately low heat. Add flour and cook mixture, stirring, for 3 minutes. Stir in chicken stock and cook over moderately high heat for 1 minute. Add garlic, lemon juice, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 5 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.   Add artichoke hearts, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, and drained capers and cook, covered, for 8 minutes. In large casserole, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, softened butter, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the drained linguine to the casserole and toss with the cheese mixture. Divide pasta among 4 heated bowls, top with sauce, and garnish each serving with additional grated Parmesan cheese.
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Makes 4 servings.
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Are you more left- or right-brained? And are you an auditory or visual learner?

Go to this page and download this amusing test to find out (Yes, it's safe to download and run this file!):

http://Michelle.Kirkpatrick.net/brain
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KEYS TO SUCCESS
Michelle Kirkpatrick, CSR, RPR
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THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE (CONTINUED)

"It is no disgrace to start over. It is usually an opportunity." -George M. Adams, author (1878-1962)
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"Creative thinking may simply mean the realization that there is no particular virtue in doing things the way they have always been done." -Rudolf Flesch, reading specialist (1911-)
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"The fellow that agrees with everything you say is either a fool or he is getting ready to skin you."-Kin Hubbard
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"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." -Albert Einstein

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"You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never
know how soon will be too late."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
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"We should take care not to make the intellect our god;
it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality."
-Albert Einstein
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"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
-Eleanor Roosevelt.
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"You're never too old to learn something stupid."
-Anonymous

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	Michelle Kirkpatrick, CSR, RPR
	PO Box 5315, Sioux City, Iowa 51102
	(712) 277-8535 fax: (712) 277-3720

Michelle Kirkpatrick has been
a court reporter since 1986, is
a Certified Shorthand Reporter
for the state of Iowa, and is
also certified as a Registered
Professional Reporter by the
National Shorthand Reporter
Association.

Michelle Kirkpatrick

Visit me at http://Michelle.Kirkpatrick.net Michelle@Kirkpatrick.net

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