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Due to the recent on-campus proliferation of Windows viruses
spread by email, ILS has installed an anti-virus detection
program on the Bates Email server called PureMessage. This
program scans all email sent to and from Bates addresses,
and will quarantine any mail messages containing viruses.
WHAT EMAIL SCANNING WON'T
DO:
The detection of a virus relies upon the virus definition
files in the detection program. Therefore brand new
viruses still may get through this system before their
signature appears in the definition file.
Mail messages already downloaded to a user's computer
via netscape, outlook, eudora or other pop mail programs
are not being scanned by ILS and may contain messages
with attachments that have a virus and can damage your
files or computer. To prevent these viruses from infecting
your computer, you must have a virus detection program
installed on your computer and have the virus detection
signature files up to date.
Mail messages saved in mail folders in elm or pine will
not be scanned and may contain viruses.
Email sent to you using accounts other than your abacus
account will not be scanned and may be able to infect
your computer.
WARNING: Computer viruses can infect
your computer from other sources. Internet downloads,
shared files and infected floppy disks can also cause
your computer to be harmed by a virus. A local virus
detection protection program will protect your computer
from these virus sources. Virus detection programs can
be purchased at Computer Sales & Service, 110 Russell
St, or at any computer store.
WHAT EMAIL SCANNING DOES:
PureMessage scans every email message to and from
a Bates email address before it is delivered.
If you have
been sent a message with an attachment containing
a virus, the mail message will not be delivered to you.
Instead, you will receive a message from PureMessage
to tell you that the message was quarantined. [details
below]
Remember that most virus messages are
email messages generated by the virus programs and
are not real messages. These viruses also forge email
addresses on false messages not really sent by that
person.
However, if you feel that this is a legitimate
email message,
you should contact the sender whose name appears
in the From: line of the message header. Let
them know that you did not receive their message
because
it was found to have a virus.
The virus signature
files for this program are updated automatically
so that new viruses should be caught as soon as they
are
identified.
Remember, your computer
can still get a virus from files downloaded
from the Internet, through network file-sharing and
from
non-Bates email addresses. So be sure your desktop virus
definitions are up to date.
QUARANTINED MESSAGE WARNING:
The subject of the original message was:
<subject
of the original message>
The original
content of this message has been quarantined by PureMessage
at mail host abacus.bates.edu because it tested positive
for the following virus(es):
<name
of virus found>
The message
is in solitary confinement at quarantine id <quarantine
id> until further action by the mail
administrator. For further information about the
message and its delivery status, please contact the
undersigned with the full content of this message.
This notification
is being sent to yourself and any other original
envelope recipient(s) for informational purposes.
To keep nuisance factors and mail traffic under control,
the original sender of the message has NOT been notified--you may
want to let them know at your discretion.
| As always, have a virus detection program running
on your computer. |
| Have your virus definition files updated to the
most recent version. |
| Never open an attachment unless you know it is clean.
Choose to save the file to your computer and scan
it before opening. |
Please call the Help
Desk with any questions at x8222.
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