[CQ-Contest] Virus Attachments from Contesters

[Bob Naumann - N5NJ]

Hal,

This phenomena is becoming more commonplace over the last couple of years with the exploitation of some security weaknesses of Microsoft email programs.  These virusses (virii?) masquerade as other legitimate senders.

I've received these messages with a return address of my own callsign at arrl.net - now, I can receive an email at that address, but I have never sent an email from that address nor would my ISP allow me to do so.

So, the solution to this is to:

1) Have current, updated virus protection software on your computer (example: CA EZ Antivirus)
2) Use a software firewall that has email protection in it (example: ZoneAlarm Pro)
3) Consider using a SPAM elimination program along with your current mail program (example: Spam Assassin(Unix);SA Proxy Pro(PC))

The other option to prevent becoming one of the offenders is to use a non-Microsoft email program.  There are several.  I use Bloomba from http://www.statalabs.com who also makes SA Proxy Pro, and the two can be tightly integrated.  

73,
Bob N5NJ



> ------------Original Message------------
> From: "Hal Offutt" <Hal at japancorporateresearch.com>
> To: "cq-contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Date: Sun, May-9-2004 10:23 PM
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Virus Attachments from Contesters
> 
> Hi,
> 
> For the last month I've been getting 4-5 viruses each day from addresses
> like validcall at hotmail.com.  (I assume that the 17.4 kb attachments are
> viruses; I don't open them.)  Today I got one that said it was from
> a well-known Connecticut contester at arrl.net.  The message title was "re: re:
> message."
> 
> I assume that whoever is sending this stuff got my address from
> contest-related list.  Are others receiving this stuff ?  Who is doing this?
> Is there anything we
> can do about it?
> 
> Hal W1NN
> 
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