I will try to answer your questions below.
At 07:28 PM 11/12/00 -0800, you wrote:
>I assumed it was just a test of my computer so I wasn't too concerned. If I
>had received it from someone completely unknown to me - not that I know you,
>Jay, personally - I would have been more concerned.
>
>I do think it was improper to just spring it on the mailing list though. I
>would have probably clicked on a weblink to check it out as I am concerned
>about my computer privacy and security.
I agree. Even though I sent the message in "plain text" if your mailer is
setup so it shows all mail in html format and the message I send has a
script in plain text in it, then you will not be able to read the script
unless you "view-source" also the script will run even though I send it in
plain text format because of the way Outlook display everything in html
format (unless you change it).
>I guess I'm not as computer savvy as you because the script you included is
>a bit beyond my abilities and means little to me. I'm sure others less
>capable that I are even more befuddled or concerned. I also do not know what
>"Windows Scripting Host" is. I wonder if this test program would have made
>it to the recipients if Topica didn't allow attachments. I dislike that list
>moderators have no way to allow or deny file attacjments when operating in
>Topica.
That's just it. The script is inside a plain text file. It's not an
attachment!
Here is an explanation of windows scripting host.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/default.htm?/scripting/windowshost/
>I send and receive email with Outlook "Depress" and what I saw when your
>message arrived in my mailbox was a small automated pop-up window asking me
>to test Internet Explorer.
Yes, it could have said, "Hello World" because it is just that basic of a
program.
The script is said to run only on Outlook Express and IE 5.5, however it
also runs in Outlook and IE 5.0 This script only reads the file and
displays it. Click ok and it's gone delete the message.
But if you can read a file with a script then someone else may be able to
delete or change a file? Microsoft needs to fix this nearly 3 month old
problem.
>I had no other option but to click on the "OK"
>button as the "delete message" or other functions were disabled by the email
>message. After I clicked on "OK", another slightly larger window popped up
>and displayed four lines of what appeared to be Windows registry regarding
>my computer's audio software. I did not see a "notepad" text document.
Yes, the second window was nothing but a form that displayed the contents
of your autoexec.bat file (if you have one). You see the same file if you
go to the c: drive and type in
"type autoexec.bat" or open the file in notepad (do not modify this file
though). The script does not modify, or change any file, it only reads it
and displays it on a form. It's the equivalent of opening a file with a
text editor such as notepad and then closing the file without changing
it. Nothing more.
>I have not found a suitable email program other than Outlook Depress. I
>dislike Netscape Composer (especally when attempting to display and forward
>full message headers) and last time I tried Eudora I couldn't believe that
>such a highly regarded email program made it so hard, or impossible, to
>display full message headers altogether. I have searched for a suitable
>replacement of OE but haven't found one to my liking yet. If anyone has any
>suggestions regarding alternate email software, I'd appreciate hearing them.
To just display the headers in Eudora Pro 5.0 click the "Blah"
button. After that, highlight or select all that you want to include in
the reply and hit the "Reply" button. All the selected text including the
full headers are put into the reply message. A neat feature is the
"include selected text in reply" feature! That way, you cut out the topica
sig and just include what you want...
>So, bottom line is, I personally did not appreciate having this test sprung
>upon me and having no option but to deal with it. I could not delete the
>message without going through the test and that is improper in my
>estimation. I would have much rather been shown a link to check it on a
>website with a text description of what it does and what benefit it might
>be.
>
>Bill
My mistake and I have apologized for sending the message. As for dealing
with it, it's nothing more than closing a pop-up when visiting a free website.
But we also need the possibility of cataclysm, so that, when situations
seem hopeless, and beyond the power of any natural force to amend, we may
still anticipate salvation from a messiah, a conquering hero, a deus ex
machina, or some other agent with power to fracture then supportable and
institute the unobtainable.
Jay
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