--- TIC-TECH message:
> From: McNamee, Judy
> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 2:02 PM
> To: A & S Receptionist
> Subject: Email Gateway Antivirus Update
>
>
> After a week with the updated antivirus protection running on the
> district's email gateway, we want to inform you of a modification that we
> have made and a precaution you should take.
>
> 1. Handling of winmail.dat attachments
>
> These are attachments created by Microsoft email programs such as Outlook
> and Outlook Express. They can contain files like Excel spreadsheets, Word
> documents, and PowerPoint presentations. They can also contain scripts
> like the one that launched the Love Bug virus, so they are extremely
> dangerous. Because of the danger, we initially set the gateway to
> quarantine these attachments.
>
> After getting requests from a couple of email users to release winmail.dat
> attachments, we learned that they are so integrated with the email message
> that contained them that they are very difficult to forward separately.
> Because of that, winmail.dat attachments are being allowed through and not
> quarantined.
>
> 2. Caution for those receiving Microsoft attachments
>
> Because so many Microsoft attachments are actually encapsulated inside a
> winmail.dat file, they represent a significant virus danger. Good
> antivirus software inspects incoming mail, and also looks at files as you
> open them. Some other antivirus software only inspects files when you save
> them to disk. To be sure you are protected, save any Microsoft attachment
> (Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, Access databases, PowerPoint
> presentations, etc.) to disk before opening it. And be sure that you are
> running a current version of antivirus software, with up-to-date virus
> definitions.
>
> We will continue to look for ways to check the Microsoft attachments for
> viruses, while still getting them to you in a useable form in a reasonable
> timeframe.
>
> Thanks,
> Judy
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Judy McNamee
> Manager, Computer Operations
> Seattle Public Schools
> Voice: 206-252-0306
> Fax: 206-252-0301
> jmcnamee@seattleschools.org
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Apr 23 2001 - 17:20:57 PDT