[CQ-Contest] CABRILLO QUESTION

[Mike Gilmer - N2MG]

On Mon, 29 October 2001, Zack Widup wrote:

> Although not limited to these types of files, most 
> of the file types containing viruses end in
> .exe, .com, .doc, .pif, .xls, .ppt and other
> Microschlock types of programs.  

The problem is that files with these extensions 
aren't simply "opened" when double-clicked (we're 
talking Windows here of course), but are, instead, "executed".  And, thanks to the security 
breach called macros, even the lowly .doc and .xls 
files are now suspect because Word and Excel can and 
will run macros written into what had historically 
been considered a non-executable datafile. (Some 
versions allow the user to disable the running of 
macros - highly recommended.)

> It's unlikely that someone is going to
> send a text file ending in .log with a virus in it. 

Files that are not identified as "runnable" by the OS
(regardless of extension: .txt, .log, etc.) are not 
executed when opened and if associated with a text 
editor, such as MS Notepad or MS Wordpad (or something 
equivalent) there's no capability for running anything 
hidden in them.  No harm should come from having them 
as attachments.  Embedding a "virus" in a text file is 
probably worthless.


73,
Mike
n2mg at contesting.com
________________________________________________
PeoplePC:  It's for people. And it's just smart. 
http://www.peoplepc.com 


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