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VIRUS- L Digests - Oct, '89
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[ Last modified 23 January 89 - Ken van Wyk ]
Welcome! This is the semi-monthly introduction posting to VIRUS-L,
primarily for the benefit of any newcomers to the list. Many of you
have probably already seen a message (or two...) much like this, but
it does change from time to time, so I would appreciate it if you took
a couple of minutes to glance over it.
What is VIRUS-L?
It is an electronic mail discussion forum for sharing information and
ideas about computer viruses. Discussions should include (but not
necessarily be limited to): current events (virus sightings), virus
prevention (practical and theoretical), and virus related
questions/answers. The list is moderated and digested. That means
that any message coming in gets sent to me, the editor. I read
through the messages and make sure that they adhere to the guidelines
of the list (see below) and add them to the next digest. Weekly logs
of digests are kept by the LISTSERV (see below for details on how to
get them). For those interested in statistics, VIRUS-L is now (Jan.
23, 1989) up to 950 direct subscribers. Of those, approximately 80
are local redistribution accounts with an unknown number of readers.
As stated above, the list is digested and moderated. As such, digests
go out when a) there are enough messages for a digest, and b) when I
put all incoming (relevant) messages into the digest. Obviously, this
can decrease the timeliness of urgent messages such as virus
warnings/alerts. For that, we have a sister list called VALERT-L. It
is unmoderated and undigested - anything going in to the list goes
directly out to all the subscribers, as well as to VIRUS-L for
inclusion in the next available digest. VALERT-L is for the sole
purpose of rapidly sending out virus alerts. Anyone who does not
adhere to this one guideline of VALERT-L will be immediately removed
from the list. That is, no news is good news. Subscriptions and
deletions to VALERT-L are handled identically as those for VIRUS-L
(see instructions below).
What VIRUS-L is *NOT*?
A place to spread hype about computer viruses; we already have the
Press for that. :-) A place to sell things, to panhandle, or to flame
other subscribers. If anyone *REALLY* feels the need to flame someone
else for something that they may have said, then the flame should be
sent directly to that person and/or to the list moderator (that would
be me, <[email protected]>).
How do I get on the mailing list?
Well, if you are reading this, chances are *real good* that you are
already on the list. However, perhaps this document was given to you
by a friend or colleague... So, to get onto the VIRUS-L mailing list,
send a mail message to <[email protected]>. In the body of the
message, say nothing more than SUB VIRUS-L your name. LISTSERV is a
program which automates mailing lists such as VIRUS-L. As long as you
are either on BITNET, or any network accessible to BITNET via gateway,
this should work. Within a short time, you will be placed on the
mailing list, and you will get confirmation via e-mail.
How do I get OFF of the list?
If, in the unlikely event, you should happen to want to be removed
from the VIRUS-L discussion list, just send mail to
<[email protected]> saying SIGNOFF VIRUS-L. People, such as
students, whose accounts are going to be closed (for example, over the
summer...) - PLEASE signoff of the list before you leave. Also, be
sure to send your signoff request to the LISTSERV and not to the list
itself. Note that the appropriate node name is LEHIIBM1, not LEHIGH;
we have a node called LEHIGH, but they are *NOT* one and the same.
How do I send a message to the list?
Just send electronic mail to <[email protected]> and it will
automatically be sent to the editor for possible inclusion in the next
digest to go out.
What does VIRUS-L have to offer?
All VIRUS-L digests are stored in weekly log files which can be
downloaded by any user on (or off) the mailing list. Note that the
log files contain all of the digests from a particular week. There is
also a small archive of some of the public anti-virus programs which
are currently available. This archive, too, can be accessed by any
user. All of this is handled automatically by the LISTSERV here at
Lehigh University (<[email protected]>).
How do I get files (including log files) from the LISTSERV?
Well, you will first want to know what files are available on the
LISTSERV. To do this, send mail to <[email protected]> saying
INDEX VIRUS-L. Note that filenames/extensions are separated by a
space, and not by a period. Once you have decided which file(s) you
want, send mail to <[email protected]> saying GET filename
filetype. For example, GET VIRUS-L LOG8804 would get the file called
VIRUS-L LOG8804 (which happens to be the monthly log of all messages
sent to VIRUS-L during April, 1988). Note that, starting June 6,
1988, the logs are weekly. The new file format is VIRUS-L LOGyymmx
where yy is the year (88, 89, etc.), mm is the month, and x is the
week (A, B, etc.). Readers who prefer digest format lists should read
the weekly logs and sign off of the list itself. Subsequent
submissions to the list should be sent to me for forwarding.
Also available is a LISTSERV at SCFVM which contains more anti-virus
software. This LISTSERV can be accessed in the same manner as
outlined above, with the exceptions that the address is
<[email protected]> and that the commands to use are INDEX PUBLIC
and GET filename filetype PUBLIC.
What is uuencode/uudecode, and why might I need them?
Uuencode and uudecode are two programs which convert binary files into
text (ASCII) files and back again. This is so binary files can be
easily transferred via electronic mail. Many of the files on this
LISTSERV are binary files which are stored in uuencoded format (the
file types will be UUE). Both uuencode and uudecode are available
from the LISTSERV. Uudecode is available in BASIC and in Turbo Pascal
here. Uuencode is available in Turbo Pascal. Also, there is a very
good binary-only uuencode/uudecode package on the LISTSERV which is
stored in uuencoded format.
Why have posting guidelines?
To keep the discussions on-track with what the list is intended to be;
a vehicle for virus discussions. This will keep the network traffic
to a minimum and, hopefully, the quality of the content of the mail to
a maximum.
What are the guidelines?
Try to keep messages relatively short and to the point, but with
all relevant information included. This serves a dual purpose;
it keeps network traffic to a necessary minimum, and it improves
the likelihood of readers reading your entire message.
Personal information and .signatures should be kept to the
generally accepted maximum of 5 lines of text. The editor may
opt to shorten some lengthy signatures (without deleting any
relevant information, of course). Within those 5 lines, feel
free to be a bit, er, creative if you wish.
Anyone sending messages containing, for example, technical
information should *PLEASE* try to confirm their sources of
information. When possible, site these sources. Speculating is
frowned upon - it merely adds confusion. This editor does not
have the time to confirm all contributions to the list, and may
opt to discard messages which do not appear to have valid sources
of information.
All messages sent to the list should have appropriate subject
lines. The subject lines should include the type of computer to
which the message refers, when applicable. E.g., Subject: Brain
virus detection (PC). Messages without appropriate subject lines
*STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF NOT BEING INCLUDED IN A DIGEST*.
As already stated, there will be no flames on the list. Such
messages will be discarded.
The same goes for any commercial plugs or panhandling.
Submissions should be directly or indirectly related to the
subject of computer viruses. This one is particularly important,
other subscribers really do not want to read about things that
are not relevant - it only adds to network traffic and
frustration for the people reading the list.
Responses to queries should be sent to the author of the query,
not to the entire list. The author should then send a summary of
his/her responses to the list at a later date.
"Automatic answering machine" programs (the ones which reply to
e-mail for you when you are gone) should be set to *NOT* reply to
VIRUS-L. Such responses sent to the entire list are very rude
and will be treated as such.
When sending in a submission, try to see whether or not someone
else may have just said the same thing. This is particularly
important when responding to postings from someone else (which
should be sent to that person *anyway*). Redundant messages will
be sent back to their author(s).
Thank-you for your time and for your adherence to these guidelines.
Comments and suggestions, as always, are invited. Please address them
to me, <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>.
Ken van Wyk
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