ADMIN: Re Viruses / Spam discussions

[Kelley]

Hi, everyone--

Many excellent points have been made in this discussion, and much 
useful advice has been given.  We appreciate everyone's input.

I will echo several things that Pshemekan has stated:

As he said, providing a link to information is best in most all 
circumstances.

Pshemekan is also correct that the Admins have the responsibility to 
issue warnings and we do this with discretion.  His comment that some 
warnings can create more disinformation (along with confusion and 
panic) is quite true.  This reason in particular is why well-meaning 
warnings about viruses and such are not allowed on these groups.

OT-Chatter is not the most appropriate venue for this discussion; 
Feedback is indeed a better place to discuss technical issues:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-Feedback/

Please note, Feedback has moderated membership.  This means that a 
list elf must send your membership through.  Before this happens, we 
ask that you read the Ground Rules message sent to you upon joining 
and verify to us at the hebbyelf@ earthlink.net address that you 
agree to those rules.  Once we have your confirmation message, your 
membership can then be sent through.

*If you've applied to join Feedback but have not received the Ground 
Rules message, please let us know at HPforGrownups-owner@ 
yahoogroups.com. 

Regarding the recent implementation by Yahoo of Spam Guard as a 
measure to stop the spamming of groups, our own practice of moderated 
posting in the HPfGU groups takes care of spam posts quite well, so 
that will be our continued method of choice.

As Shaun and Christian have commented, the mods do not get advance 
warning most of the time (we were notified well ahead of time when 
Yahoo removed attachments from posted messages in groups that allowed 
that, though).  We learn about most changes just like everyone else, 
then have to go dig deeper to get more info.  Nice, eh?

We've turned off Spam Guard in all the groups; hopefully this will go 
into effect right away, and any list members who've experienced 
problems in this regard will see those problems cease.

Please, if anyone continues to have difficulties, let us know:  
HPforGrownups-owner@ yahoogroups.com.

Pshemekan:
>> If Admin's needed help they would ask for it -- at least one Admin
Team member know that my skills are always at HP4GU's service. <<

Yes, indeed; our great thanks for this, too, Pshemekan.  It's *very* 
appreciated.  :-)

Thanks also for the link to the article.  A short quote from that 
article, regarding the recent MyDoom virus going around, but 
applicable to other email viruses:
(http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/technology/05VIRU.html)

"The virus spreads when Internet users ignore a basic rule of 
Internet life: never click on an unknown e-mail attachment. Once 
someone does, MyDoom begins to send itself to the names in that 
person's e-mail address book. If no one opened the attachment, the 
virus's destructive power would never be unleashed."

None of the HPfGU groups allow attachments to be distributed (sent 
through the list to list members); if you send a message to the group 
with an attachment included, it is "stripped" from the message before 
the message goes to the list.  If you receive an email with an HPFGU 
tag in the subject line and this email contains an attachment, it's 
virtually certain that it's a virus-infected message (and was not 
sent through the groups).  Again, do not open the attachment.  Just 
delete the message.  Also make sure to keep your anti-virus programs 
updated, and scan your computer regularly.


--Kelley, for the Admin Team