Re: Got this - not sure of authenticity. Better safe etc...

[rwing!pat () ole cdac com (Pat Myrto)]

"In the previous message, Jason Matthews said..."
> There is no way to transmit a virus to a computer via the terminal.
> Sure, maybe you can turn the printer on and off. Or maybe start up an
> zmodem download but you cannot get a virus on a remote machine by sending
> ascii...

It is possible with MSDOS machines to redefine keys via escape codes,
so that a command like del, format, or whatever is run when the key is
pressed.  Format wants a confirmation, but del doesn't unless it is
given *.* as an argument.

So it is possible to be setup to run an unwanted command, etc via reading
a message if ANSI.SYS or some clones are loaded.

Other than that, I don't know how reading a message would do anything...

> Jason

-- 
pat@rwing  [If all fails, try:  rwing!pat () eskimo com]  Pat Myrto - Seattle WA
"No one has the right to destroy another person's belief by demanding
empirical evidence."  --   Ann Landers, nationally syndicated advice columnist
and Director at Handgun Control Inc.