[OT] Re: Outhouse Text Setting - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

6 Aug 2002

...
  From: Fred Cisin (XenoSoft)
[mailto:cisin@xenosoft.com]

 "Common Sense"?!?
 That would imply that anyone, even without current expertise, 
 should be able to figure out how to use it safely. 
	Okay, true, I stand corrected. 

...
  It IS possible to use Outhouse (aka MICROSOFT Virus
Transfer Protocol)
 with reasonable safety.  But what it requires is not "common 
 sense", but a
 reasonable understanding of the problems involved, and of the design
 failings of MICROS~1 products. 
	That's my basic point. A basic understanding of the issues, and
options, with Outlook (incl. Express) can secure it some. That, and a good
firewall & virus scanner...

...
  Somebody that I know who is computer clueless, thought
that 
 the "Preview
 Pane" was a Microsoft SECURITY feature!  She assumed that it 
 was like a
 door peephole, and provided a way to SAFELY see what was in 
 an attachment
 in isolation!  I removed 30 copies of Klez from her machine.

 Was that a lack of "common sense"?  NO. It was an assumption 
 that MICROS~1
 had "reasonable" security designed into their products.  You 
 would have to
 know something about MICROS~1 for that to be a lack of "common sense". 
	Well, I think the common sense part would apply (pretty much) to the
"not taking candy from strangers" idea. But with the latest crop of virii
(exploiting MS security holes), you don't even need to open an attachment
anymore to get whacked.
	Or is it healthy suspicion of unsolicited e-mail? :)

--
---   David A Woyciesjes
---   C & IS Support Specialist
---   Yale University Press
---   (203) 432-0953
---   ICQ # - 905818