Anybody else here get sent a virus? WARNING!

I received a virus in the email today from Patrick St. Lawrence, and there were many other folks from here in the address list. I assume that the virus replicated and sent itself. I saw David Totheroh, Doug Sulpy, James Neibaur, and Constance Kuriyama in the list, amongst others.

If you got this email, don't open the attachment, titled 'See this security patch from Microsoft' the actual attachment is 'q399854.exe', and it has the W32.Gibe.B@mm virus.

Patrick, if you see this, you need to do some cleanup on your computer, 'cause you're infected! (And may this be a warning to everybody who uses Microsoft Outlook to read groups - it is very susceptable to viruses, especially if you don't have protection.)

Anyways, just wanted to let you know.

Thanks for the 'heads up' but I have a mail blocker that hinders viruses. It's been pretty effective.

Just to let everyone here know, Microsoft does NOT email security patches to individual users of Windows. Those, to my knowledege...and I am a computer tech, are only accessible through the Windows Updates site from Microsoft. They do NOT randomly send out any updates, security patches or otherwise. That is the purpose of the Windows Updates site. These people who send out these malicious viruses in the guise of microsoft are preying upon the gulliblitly of you folks that see that name and think....'well, its from microsoft, so it must be ok'. Never but NEVER open attachements from ANYONE you don't know and be especially careful of the ones you DO know. Most viruses these days spread themselves through your email programs address book...and who is in your address book but friends and family....so 9 times outta 10...you become infected from someone you know sending it to you because your address is in their address book. If you receive an attachement from a friend or family member that you weren't expecting....DON'T open the darn thing. Call them and make sure of what was sent before you do anything. And by the way, make sure your virus definitions are up to date...cuz if you just install norton or mcafee or whatever antivirus program you have and dont update it, your asking for trouble. Just some helpful advice.

Pickford Nut

Got this numerous times, but WebTV is not a computer and so is

That's right. Most of the time you know from the other information (such as title; general context) whether the e-mail is authentic or not, but if in doubt, check.

And by the way, make sure your

Figuring out how to update can be irritating, but it's worth the effort.

Connie K.