Re: hwg mailing list Protocol ???

Hi Kate!

Well, a couple of things:

1) Inserting the "hwg" prefix into the subject field is a lame duck,
because IF a spammer, electronic vandal, etc. wanted to send something to
the list, he/she could also use the prefix.

2) Yes, we are all concerned about viruses, and some of us have actually
suffered from them, but, as far as I know, any virus contained in an email
message would have to be "executed" by the recipient of the email. I
haven't heard of any that will activate by simply opening the email
message. I could be wrong about that, but usually any file attached to
email will not execute automatically.

We certainly wouldn't want you to leave the list because of your fear of
these things. Also consider the notion that spammers can target you whether
you belong to mailing lists or not. All they need is your email addy, and
in some cases, they don't even need that.

And one final note: the couple of times that virus code has popped up on
the list have been fairly harmless, because there are some very sharp
people lurking among us, and these kinds of things are usually spotted and
reported very quickly.

I hope I have re-assured you enough so that you will remain among us.

Happy HTMLing,

Mike

P.S. I do, however, agree with you that there could be a little more
clarity in the subject fields of some messages...  :)


At 02:59 PM 5/24/00 -0400, Kate Pollara wrote:
>I am a newbie on this list and have an observation that concerns me.  With
>all the problems associated with email coming from people you don't know, I
>am concerned whether or not I should be opening the mail I get from people
>on the list.  That is, I have been on other mailing lists and the subjects
>of the mailings are much clearer than the ones I've received so far from
>this list such that I know its mailing list mail and not junk mail.
>
>Is there any way that people can add a code such as hwg at the beginning of
>their subject area so we can all know that the mail we are opening isn't
>junk mail/spam/virus etc?
>
>example:
>Subject:   hwg Any title you wish to ask about
>
>This would be a terrific courtesy that would make us all feel a lot more
>comfortable with receiving mail from unknown sources.
>I really want to stay on this list but have serious concerns about knowing
>what I am opening.  If you have ever detected a virus on your system,
>perhaps you can appreciate my concern.
>Kate Pollara
>
>www.jsjbf.com
>
>
>
>
>

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