Re: Future Impact of Viruses on Internet

["Gordon D. Wishon" <gwishon () ND EDU>]

Instead of blocking these attachments, we typically rename them (to
.exe_unknown, for example) and forward them along with a note suggesting
the recipient exercise extreme caution in their handling.  This was a
policy promulgated from within the OIT, vetted across the technical
community, and then communicated and implemented.  We've had almost no
negative response, and plenty of positive reaction and support.

Gordon

At 09:34 AM 1/29/2004 -0600, Marty Hoag wrote:
> Gene Spafford wrote:
>
> > Curmudgeon mode on:
> > ...
> >
> > As to the second point, if we simply start blocking any executable
> > content attachments, we will do a lot to stop these kinds of things
> > (not to mention recover disk space and bandwidth, cut down on
> > trojans, and reduce the number of pranks users play play on each
> > other).  I block  .(com|cmd|exe|pif|scr|bat) files on general
> > principle.  I also bounce .doc files, and I am now bouncing .zip
> > archives.   This has never caused me any real difficulty in
> > collaboration with others.     If anything, it has cut down on the
> > junk people simply mail because it is easy.   Sending around 50K
> > files for a 3 line memo is a waste of resources.
>
> Gene and others:
>
>    I am interested in how your campus went about this. Was the
> blocking instituted unilaterally by some central IT organization?
> Or was there some local process you went through to explain why
> the blocking was needed and to gain consensus on what should be
> blocked? Is there a University policy specifically supporting
> this or just one which gives your group responsibility for
> protecting the local network? Or is this being done on a
> smaller subset of the University network?
>    I certainly agree the blocking is a good thing but am
> wondering about the way folks go about this (as an example).
>
>    Thanks!
>
>    Marty
>
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