I am not aware of any email programs that will automatically run an
executable, even if it is an attachment.  Therefore these viruses are
generally a hoax.

Watch out for Active-X pages, they will destroy your drives ... another
fine product brought to us compliments of Microsoft :)

----------
> From: Doug Prescott <DAPrescott@AOL.COM>
> To: Vanagon@GERRY.SDSC.EDU
> Subject: Fwd: FW: FW. DEADLY COMPUTER VIRUS -Forwarded
> Date: Thursday, September 11, 1997 10:36 AM
>
> Fellow Listees:
>
> FWIW
> ---------------------
> Forwarded message:
> Subj:    Fwd: FW: FW. DEADLY COMPUTER VIRUS -Forwarded
> Date:    97-09-10 16:52:44 EDT
> From:    Pj nspi
> To:      eileen@acls.org
> CC:      Id8619,CMC1863,DJD216,DAPrescott
> CC:      MBECKER@wcupa.ed
>
>
> ---------------------
> Forwarded message:
> Subj:    Re: FW: FW. DEADLY COMPUTER VIRUS -Forwarded
> Date:    97-09-10 12:09:09 EDT
> From:    ADiminno
> To:      Pj nspi,JLONG@phila.k12.pa.us
> To:      CAMRIES,Patd426
>
> In a message dated 97-09-09 18:38:13 EDT, you write:
>
> << ear ALL  USERS,
>  >>>>     Please read this message
>  >>>>>>>
>  >>>>> FOR YOUR INFORMATION
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>>>>> It is essential that this problem be reconciled as soon as
> possible.
>  >>>A few hours ago, someone opened an E-mail that had the subject
heading
>  >>>>> of a04free.com
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> Within seconds of opening it, a windows appeared and began to
display
>  >>>>> all files that were being deleted. The user immediately shut down
the
>  >>>>> computer, but it was too late.
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> This virus wiped all out. It ate the Ani-Virus Software that comes
>  >>>>> with the Windows'95 Program along with F-Prot AVS. Neither was
able
>  >>>to detect it. Please be careful and send this to as many peoples as
>  >>>>> passable, so maybe this new virus can be eliminated.
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> Please pass this on .................to anyone you know.
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> This information was received this morning from IBM, please share
it
>  >>>>> with anyone that might access the Internet:
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> If anyone receives E-mail entitled "PENPAL GREETINGS!" please
delete
>  >>>>> it WITHOUT READING IT!! This is a warning for all Internet through
an
>  >>>>> E-mail message entitled "PENPAL GREETINGS!"
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANY MESSAGE ENTITLED "PENPAL GREETINGS!" This
message
>  >>appears to be a friendly letter asking you if you are interested in a
>  >>>>> penpal, but the time you read the letter, it is too late. The
"TROJAN
>  >>>>> HORSE" virus will have already infected the boot sector of your
hard
>  >>>>> drive, destroying all of the data present.
>  >>>>>
>  >>>
>  >>>>> It is a self-replicating virus, and once the message is read, it
will
>  >>>>> AUTOMATICALLY forward itself to anyone whose E-mail address is
>  >>>present in YOUR mailbox!
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> This virus will DESTROY your hard drive, and holds the potential
to
>  >>>>> DESTROY the hard drive of anyone whose mail is in your INBOX, and
>  >>>>> whose mail is in their INBOX and so on.
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> If this virus keeps getting passed, it has the potential to do a
>  >>>great deal of damage to computer networks worldwide !!!!
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> Pass this message along to all your users and other readers of the
>  >>>>> newsgroups and mailing lists which you are on so that they are not
>  >>>>> hurt by this DANGEROUS VIRUS !!!!!!
>  >>>>>
>  >>>>> >>