Richard Lamb wrote:
Well, I guess that's the way the world works.
I've had this account up for a couple of weeks and
have started receiving the same old spam loaded
with viruses.
Last year, one somehow got through and perty well
ruined the whole day.
So, for a while at least, I'm raising my shields to
max (one reason I picked Earthlink).
I don't have everybody listed in my address book yet.
So anyone sending a legitimate email will likely receive
a reply advising them how to complete the contact.
Sorry about this.
But I'm not going through that mess again.
Ta.
Richard
First, go to:
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
Run their scan.
They will tell you which ports are open (very bad), which are
responding, and which are in "stealth" mode. They will try to scare you
into buying their security software. Go ahead and buy it if it makes
you feel more secure.
Next, install Zone Labs "Zonealarm" firewall (it's free), and have your
computer scanned again to see what a difference it makes. Be sure to
run a scan before you install Zonealarm so you'll see just how open and
insecure your computer was.
Next, download "Spybot" (it's free) and run it on your computer.
A good, free anti-virus software is AVG.
You are, of course, regularly backing up all your data, aren't you? A
good (free) program for that is Syncback. A good but not free program
for that was Ghost. Now it's Symmantic-Norton Ghost, so it may have
turned into a piece of crap. It's too early for me to tell yet.
Finally, broadcasting your real email address on usenet is an open
invitation for spam. So change your email address now and use a phony
or coded email address like I and many others do. I consider using
Microsoft Outlook an open invitation for viruses, too, but that opinion
was formed several years ago and I'm sure they've improved their
security since then.
I haven't gotten ANY spam in the last two years, and I haven't had a
computer virus ever in the last ten years that I've been online.
--
John Kimmel
I think it will be quiet around here now. So long.