(this really is off topic of Peds, but do to this really coming to the forefront it is worth at least one last comment - and since we are all on this list, I would think it to be appropriate for other questions on the subject of email safety to be posted :) >My understanding of Norton A/V is that it checks ALL programs before running >them, depending on what options you set. It takes a little more time, but >with my speedy 120 MHz Pentium, the few tenths of a second it takes to run >is worth it. Correct, if you have it set properly. To me, again, the real problem is that even the best of the A/V programs can only detect what is *known* to have to detect. Criminals become very tricky when they are trying to destroy the property of others. Running the A/V software is very important, but don't trust it. It is like relying on a radar detector in your car - it will work a whole bunch of the time, the rest of the time you take your chances. The police have new radar types designed for them to out-trick the best/newest detectors, then the detector companies get smarter and catch them. A/V business is no different - the spot a new criminal and they put out better radar, after someone has suffered. Older virus *styles* were to mess up the boot sector of your hard drive - this became easy to detect without even knowing what virus it is. Thus programs like HAPPY99 that actually do no true damage (that I know of), are just annoying, and without knowing specifics about it, it is hard to detect with generic checking. This is why you shouldn't rely on your A/V program - just use common sense and think about what you are about to double-click on. I do not at all practice what I preach - I DO NOT run any anti-virus software. The ONLY checking I do is a process that my tape backup software runs before running its DAILY backup. I just practice safe-computing, I don't run unknown programs, I just sit being bored by my work without the joy of seeing fireworks - and in 20yrs in this field (16 with PC's) I have yet to ever catch any viruses. Maybe just lucky. 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 ***************************