PAUL - PLEASE don't send anyone an email until you read this - your system is infected!!!! Paul probably didn't know that he sent HAPPY99.EXE - it is not really his fault. Here is the scoop on how HAPPY99.EXE works: 1) a previous email called it a *worm* virus. Exactly correct. Once YOU are infected, it worms its way around. So, you receive an email with HAPPY99 attached. Unknowingly (since you haven't read emails by Chip and myself about not running unknown programs), you run the program, and forget about it. 2) Now you have been infected. Happy99 attaches itself to all of your out-going email in the form of a 2nd message containing the HAPPY99.EXE file. So, you are now sending it to everyone you email. Since Paul's system is infected w/HAPPY99, EVERYONE he sends an email to gets a follow-up message with HAPPY99, like we all did after his PEDTALK post. SOLUTION (Paul, PLEASE DO THIS before sending anymore email - to protect others): Norton A/V and McAfee will both clean HAPPY99 out of your system. It is easy to clean, if you know you have it or your already running A/V program picks it up as some people noted today. Final lesson of the day, then class dismissed, just repeating a general safety warning: many people send all sorts of cute programs around via email. Most of these have unknown origins. Most are completely safe to run, someone was having fun, wrote something cute, and sent it around. But unfortunately, the criminal element is out there, and YES, this is a criminal violation, a criminal felony in most states. So, does the cute program you are running do anything you will be sorry for or is it just a cute program. Don't take chances, there is NOTHING out there that is so cute that it just must be seen. The risk of infection just isn't worth it, unless you enjoy reloading your operating system (and putting toothpicks under your fingernails). So Paul, please feel assured that we all now know that you did not do this purposely, but please dis-infect your system right away. I did notice you have not replied to any of these messages - and that may be because you know you shouldn't. Thank you!!!!! Danny *************************** Daniel Frieling mailto: Pediatric Software Intl., Inc. http://www.compukid.com CompuKID, The Pediatric Toolkit Computer software for primary care pediatrics (800) WELL-CHILD (800-935-5244) Outside the USA: (973) 726-4444 ***************************