do you think this is a good idea

[ken2]

> If you know this already
> then sorry for the email. However, if you don't
> know it could be very useful. Read
> on...
>
> How to
> protect your e-mail address
> book
>
> A computer repairman
> says this is like having
> gold.
> This is a good
> thing.
> I learned a
> computer trick today that's really ingenious in its
> simplicity.
>
> As you may know, when/if
> a worm virus gets into your
> computer
> it heads straight for your email
> address book,
> and sends itself to everyone
> in there,
> thus infecting all your friends
> and associates.
>
> This trick won't keep
> the virus from getting
> into your computer,
> but it will stop it from
> using your address book
> to spread further,
> and it will alert you to the
> fact that the worm
> has
> gotten into your
> system.
>
> Here's
> what you do:
>
> First, open your address book
> and click on
> 'new
> contact,'
> just as you would do if you were
> adding
> a new friend
> to your list of email
> addresses.
> In the window where you would type
> your
> friend's first
> name, type
> in
> 'A'.
>
> For the
> screen
> name or
> email
> address,
> type
> [email protected]
>
> Now,
> here's what you've done and why it
> works:
>
> The 'name
> 'A' will be placed at the
> top of your address
> book
>
> as entry
> #1.
>
>
>
> This will be where the
> worm will start
>
> in an effort to send itself to all
> your friends.
>
>
>
> When it tries to send
> itself to [email protected],
>
> it will be
> undeliverable
>
> because of
> the phoney email address you
> entered.
>
> If the first attempt
> fails
>
> (which
> it will because of the
> phoney address),
>
> the worm goes no
> further
>
> and
> your friends will not be
> infected.
>
>
>
> Here's the second
> great advantage of this
> method:
>
> If an email cannot be
> delivered,
>
> you will be notified
> of this in your In
> Box
> almost
> immediately.
>
> Hence,
>
> if you ever get an email telling you
> that an email addressed to [email protected] could not be
> delivered,
>
> you know right away that you have the
> worm virus
>
> in
> your system.
>
> You can then take steps to get rid of
> it!
>
>
>
> Pretty slick
> huh?
>
>
>
> If everybody you know
> does this
>
> then you need not ever worry about
> opening mail from
> friends.
>
>
>
>
>
> DO IT
> NOW
> and
> pass this on to all your
> friends

[pete_l]

Doesn't work. See this explanation

[gerryh]

You can almost guarantee that anything which ends with:-

> and
> pass this on to all your
> friends

Is a scam or a hoax.
Cheers
Gerry

[frank]

..and you can guarantee that most will pass it on to their friends. I don't forward anything, ever, that comes with those instructions. And is it only me that is concerned that when someone forwards you a pile of rubbish, there is always a huge list of e-mail addresses with it.

[Sadie]

I agree Frank, I have asked people to not send me them and to remove addresses before sending and some did but a lot dont, its so frustrating so I tend to not email those people as I know if I do they will forward it out with my email then showing. I wish people would just stop being lazy and check out if these email alerts are a real threat before sending on and just remove peoples addresses before forwarding emails on too, takes seconds to do.

[Beachcomber]

Yes, Frank, I agree as well.

If people must indulge in mass mailing the least they could do is use BCC so that everyone cannot see everyone else's email address.

It is odd that many people take great exception to being told this (even diplomatically) as though it is some kind of slight on their 'computer skills'.

[Devils Advocate]

Have you noticed that most of these "joke" aren't I funny emails with 30 other bulk emails attatched come from aquaintances as opposed to friends.........Just like "aqaintances" are more likely to phone you at 11 0 clock at night whereas friends who know you know you wouldn't be impressed with a call at that time

Anything with a cc to other email addresses gets binned unopened!

[pigs-might-fly]

Of course, the correct way to send a joke/cartoon etc. on is to save any images there may be; copy the text; insert the image and then paste the text into a new email.
Only idlers just forward the lot!

[frank]

I have to say as well, that the worst culprit for me, is a Spanish friend, there are often hundreds of addresses included in the list, it's a scammers dream! I could sign all those up for all sorts of offers, or any other devious things if I were that way inclined. And of course, they could do the same for me! :-(

[pete_l]

Well, the simple answer is to have more than one email address. Either get your own domain, which makes it so much easier to change ISPs and create multiple addresses for different uses, or use "disposable" addresses, such as the ones from Spamgourmet. Then you can give each of your "friends" a different email address that will reach you. That way, if the so-called friend does start abusing it, you just cut them off.

[frank]

I already have a pile of e-mail addresses, and a programme that generates addresses, but friends and family tend to stick with the first address you ever gave them. ;-) If something needs an e-mail address, and I don't want them to contact me, I just add "[email protected]", it always accepts it. But it's often not big companies that cause the problem, it's bl00dy friends and family! ;-)

[ken2]

So that's a no then ,lol

[El Viejo Hombre]

So that's a no then ,lol

Its a hoax what they want you to do is email it to everybody in your address book

Whoever perpetrates this type of email seems to get some sort of kick from it

[tjtops]

Has anyone had experience of the 'worm' that sends itself out to ppl on your address book, purporting to be from you, offering a link for you to 'see who's blocking you on MSN' ....then asks you for your password, login etc.....?
If so, how the hell do you get rid of it?? And what else does it do??

[pigs-might-fly]

I don't know about that particular worm, but a scan with Malwarebytes (free) or Dr. Web (free online) are a couple of possibilities
If you are using the system restore facility on windows, it is possible that any "nasties" will have been stored there along with the file settings etc., which you DO want.
I would temporarily disable system restore and do a restart. This should clear all the protected stuff in system restore. Do another restart and carry out a scan in "safe mode".(Most PCs will enter safe mode if you tap F8 repeatedly when the PC is re-booting).
Don't forget to re-enable system restore once you are done.

[Enrique]

Hi tjtops,
Sorry for my tardy reply but have been on painting duty this morning

Get a copy (if not already on your system) of Malwarebytes free and update , run full scan.
Lets know what it finds. Really need to know what the Worm/Virus name is.

Found this chat about "similar" problem ...........

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... 36505.html