How behind in pop culture am I? I only today discovered that The Two Towers trailer is online.
Also today, some comment on this urban legend about putting a certain e-mail address in your Outlook address book. It's amazing how people with little knowledge of computers -- with downright fear of computers -- can be sucked into these urban legends. A basic understanding of epidemiology and genomics (even more than computer science) would tell you that computer viruses have no "silver bullet" outside of vigilance and a good, frequently updated (that is, NOT DELAYING THE UPDATE EVERY TIME IT POPS UP) virus protection software package.
Two things separate computer viruses from viruses in nature:
1. It's very easy to mutate a software virus or worm -- open it up and make your changes. It's not near as easy to do it with, say, a poliomyelitis virus (as seen earlier).
2. It's very easy to prevent a software virus or worm -- save (don't open) your attachments, turn off Outlook's features that automatically run scripts with your e-mail, get a good virus protection bundle and keep it running AND updated. Most of all, remember that things are NEVER EVER what they seem. If you think that Bob in accounting is sending you a love note, he's not. Truth is, no one loves you but yourself.
