Can printing a message from a Subject line -- w/o Opening the message
-- launch a virus?
A while back I got a warning message from a friend about a new virus circulating (verified with Snopes).
Message said in HUGE COLORED LETTERS that printing will launch the virus.
Inquiring minds: I thought one had to actually OPEN the message to launch virus.
Anybody know, or can direct me to appropriate group?
TIA
HB
I can't think without knowing more details. PC or Mac, what software do you use to read your email? Online or Pop3? If online, do you mean gmail? or what? If POP3, what program? IMAP?
I also don't know what printing a message from a Subject line w/o opeing the message means.
I hope so. Is there one for Windows 7? I don't have that yet, but expect to get it in 5 or 10 years (after it's debugged).
Somehow this does not make sense to me. Of course to print it, you MUST open it, right? But emails and usenet messages are just text, you must click on an attachment such as a file ending with .EXE. You'll only find that on Binary newsgroups. Or emails. I dont see how printing can do much of anything to run the virus.
To get a better answer, goto alt.comp.anti-virus or one of the newsgroups specific to your operating system, such as alt.windows-xp, alt.windows98, etc.
There's a newsgroup for every MS operating system.
Not exactly. Some (most?) email messages are HTML, not text. HTML code can invoke imbedded executables (i.e., Java). A small executable can then contact a stink-eye web site and download anything. Well, anything your anti-virus (AV) program will allow.
If you don't have an effective AV program, the malware's medicine man is gonna be waving chicken-claws over your ashes.
HTML in itself can not cause a virus, but Java Scripts can. I keep Java Script disabled most of the time and only turn it on, on sites I trust. Some sites dont work properly without it, but I dont need those sites then.....
The other thing is to NOT allow any site to download anything onto your computer. That's in the settings. Only allow downloads if YOU accept them.
I'm sure there is. But I only run Win98 thru XP. I have no need for Microsofts Bloated OS's. Even XP has too much bloat and crap for my tastes. I prefer Win98 and Win2000, which is what I run on the home computer (both of them as dual boot). My laptop has XP, and only because it came with that and is needed to run the WIFI built into it. I only use the laptop to connect to the net when I'm on the road. I dont use it at home, so I just ignore the crap in the OS because I only run 3 programs on it. Firefox, Thunderbird, and Forte Agent. (and sometimes notepad and calculator).
THe group is probably something like alt.windows-7. Search for it in your ALL GROUPS list, or on google groups.
alt.comp.anti-virus alt.privacy.spyware
Why bother? Windows 8 will probably be released in a year or so.
Good advice. Of course goblin-ware is not going to ask permission. . .
On 4/24/2011 2:22 AM mm spake thus:
That's easy: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:2.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/4.0,gzip(gfe)
Just as you are using Forte Agent 1.93/32.576 English (American)
Gee, how did I find those? Magic?
My question -- I thought it was clear? -- was: Would Printing the message from the Subject line, without Opening it trigger a virus? Don't know how to explain it better.
Suppose I got an email, Subject line: "Join protest on Tax Day". If I Opened it, the body would read: "Meet us at Bank of America 4:00 at on Tax Day April 18."
I have actually Printed (messages from known sources!!!!) from the Subject line.
Other times, I Opened the message (from known source!!!!) and then Printed it.
So I wanted to know whether Printing just from Subject line would trigger a virus ... or if one has to Open the message first.
Sigh. I am trying hard...
HB
GB
On 4/24/2011 5:19 PM Higgs Boson spake thus:
First of all, it would have helped to have known that your mail/news client is Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:2.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/4.0,gzip(gfe). So obviously you're using a web browser to read messages through (gag) (choke) Google Groups.
Second, when you say "printing just from subject line", do you mean right-clicking and selecting "Print" from the pop-up menu?
Knowing little details like these help us to help you.
My own guess(R)(Tm) would be that it's safe, because you're using FireFox instead of Internet Exploiter, the web browser that goes around with an "Infect Me!" sign taped to its back.
But I'll never guarantee that answer. The *best* answer is, if you're at all worried about being infected by something, then just avoid it altogether.
I gave you the correct groups to post to. If you want a real answer.....go there.
Dustin Cook who worked for/with MBAM (Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware) posts in both groups and is very knowledgeable.
David Lipman who also posts in both groups is also very knowledgeable when it come to virus' and malware.
IMO, I would say no. Printing an email from the subject line cannot infect your computer. That's makes no sense to me.
Thanks, Ron, for both your replies. The NGs and folks you recommend are precious resources for a non-techie. May all your viruses be benign and all the malware shun your computer.
HB
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