It is now possible to get a virus just by reading a plain-text e-mail message. This is a property of the KAK Worm virus. What you also have to watch out for are messages that include an executable file attachment. In order to activate a virus or a Trojan horse program, your computer has to execute some type of code. This could be a program attached to an e-mail, a word document that you download from the internet, or something received on a floppy disk.

It is an unfortunate circumstance that the "From" header of an e-mail message is so easily faked that it is usually not reliable in tracing its true source. (See below for more information about this.) However, spammers often forge the "To" header of an e-mail message, which is an attempt to confuse the true recipient of the message.

A As of this writing it is very unlikely that a virus can be transmitted in this way. In our opinion normal anti-virus precautions are adequate. Popular software includes McAfee, Norton Anti-Virus, or Thunderbyte. Evaluation copies are available on the Web; please visit TUCOWS for anti-virus software. Another way that your computer can catch a virus is through an e-mail attachment. In this case, you would have to run the file in order for it to infect anything.

Harbornet filters all incoming and outgoing mail for viruses, and returns any emails containing them, without delivering them. However, we still advise you to purchase and install some kind of anti-virus software on your computer. Although we do our best to prevent viruses from being delivered to you via email, it is still possible that new, unknown viruses, or new variants will slip though our filters.

I cannot send e-mail from my MegaQuebec Internet account when connected to the Internet with another Internet service provider (ISP), although I can receive e-mail without a problem.

In the days before E-mail, most viruses were transmitted by floppy disks passed from computer to computer. Now, most viruses are transmitted by E-mail in attachments. You can protect yourself from viruses by opening E-mail attachments only if you can answer yes to all four of the following questions:

Yes. Some viruses are designed to be transmitted through e-mail. Viruses transmitted through e-mail usually come in the form of an attachment. You actually have to open the attachment before the virus can infect your system. If an attachment looks suspicious, then do not open it until you can confirm that it is not a virus.

E-mail messages are in the simple text format. Hence it is impossible to get a virus into your system by simply reading your e-mail. Viruses are usually transmitted as attachments to e-mail. Exercise caution while launching these attachments. If you get an email from an unsolicited source along with an attachment, it is better to delete it. In case you are suspicious about an attachment, check it's authenticity with the sender of the message.

I submitted my subscribe and/or unsubscribe request, but I haven't received my confirmation messages.

Sure. If you have a question that isn't here or in the long version of the FAQ, or if you just want to send along a comment, feel free. If I know the answer and/or have the time and energy, I'll write back.

Yes, a commercial virus scanner is used for all incoming e-mail. The virus identity files are updated every 24 hours automatically to insure the most up to date viruses are caught. Please note that many ISP's charge extra for this service while we do this for you at no extra cost.

We format the digest strictly and deliberately as plain text, because we want the digest to be readable everywhere on any system. Only plain text does that. The software which assembles the digests has several walls that bar anything but plain text from getting through. (1) It accepts no posts except those in plain text, and (2) It has no capacity to produce anything but plain text in the digest mail piece.

No, e-mail is just one of several virus and worm delivery methods, and probably the most popular. Other routes of infection include direct downloads from websites, newsgroups, instant messages, ftp servers or elsewhere. This is just one reason why relying on virus warning e-mails provides no real protection.

If you are using Windows 95 or Windows 98 and Outlook Express 5.0-6.0, you can receive an e-mail with a hidden script worm that will write a file to your Windows Startup folder. To prevent this from happening, you can turn off the Windows scripting option. Unfortunately, many new viruses are created each month. The best way to protect yourself from new computer viruses is to regularly update your anti-virus software.

No, because WebTV isn't a computer and can't download or run a virus (which is a small program). Most viruses you hear about are hoaxes, you can find out more about hoaxes, rumors, and chain letters here. What can I do about all the spam (unsolicited e-mail advertisements) I've been getting? Either discard them without replying to them, or (much better) report them. To learn how and who to report it to, visit Death of a Spammer.

Under NO circumstances - no matter how tempting - should you unsubscribe from the link at the bottom of a spammer's unsolicited offering. Instead of unsubscribing, you are only confirming that your email address is valid. This will ensure your email address' hasty proliferation among the spam operations and spam-gangs.

If they do not desist you can e-mail the Service Provider asking them to "have a word" with there user. If this still does not work most mail programs have a Mail Filter which can be set to detect certain addresses or e-mail subjects and you can have the e-mail forwarded automatically into the trash without you seeing it One thing you can do to avoid getting on bulk e-mail lists is to be careful who you give your e-mail address to.