TECH: Email security issue (from Microsoft)

[Jody Newman <jcnewma@ibm.net>]

Hi all:

The following is a message sent to my son in response to the recent
concern over email security. I pass it along for any/all of you to use
in understanding the problem and/or fixing your systems.

Jody Newman
Library Aide
Center School
Stow MA
jcnewma@ibm.net

************************

This is a special alert message to registered users of Microsoft Office,

Microsoft Outlook 98, Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 or later,
and Microsoft Windows 98.  We want to inform you of a security issue
that affects e-mail packages including Microsoft Outlook 98 and
Microsoft Outlook Express versions 4.0 or later.  Microsoft has created
a fix for this security issue, which can be downloaded from
http://www.microsoft.com/security/

This security issue involves how e-mail software handles file
attachments with extremely long file names.  When users attempt to
download, open or launch a file attachment that has a name containing
more than a certain number of characters, their action can cause the
program to shut down unexpectedly.  It is possible - although difficult
- for a hacker to cause malicious code to be executed on a computer as a

result of this problem. However, this cannot be caused accidentally, and

to date we have received no reports of users being affected.  More
information on this issue can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/ms98-008.htm

Microsoft takes security very seriously, and we know you do as well.
Microsoft is committed to ensuring that all its customers enjoy a rich,
safe and secure computing experience and developers have been working
around the clock to isolate and deal with these issues.  Microsoft has
provided software patches for both Outlook Express and Outlook 98 at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/
We strongly recommend that you download the appropriate patch
immediately.

To ensure customer safety with regard to this and other security-related

issues, Microsoft is investigating further to uncover variants that the
current patch may not block. Microsoft will communicate additional
information about this research as it becomes available.  You can also
visit
http://www.microsoft.com/security/.
for the latest information and updates, and to register for the
Microsoft Security Notification Service.

Thank you.



=====================================================================
Microsoft, Outlook, and Windows are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries.  Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to use this mailing list:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our relationship with you is very important to us.  If you do not want
to receive e-mail from Microsoft.com's e-mail service, please visit our
Web site at:
http://www.microsoft.com/misc/unsubscribe.htm

This is the place you can subscribe or unsubscribe to our free e-mail
newsletters and/or choose not to receive e-mail from Microsoft.com's
e-mail service.

Alternatively, please send a reply to this e-mail with the word
"unsubscribe" as the first line in the body of the message.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  The
information contained in this document represents the current view of
Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of
publication.  Because Microsoft must respond to change in market
conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part
of Microsoft and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any
information presented after the date of publication.
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT.
The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this
document. This  document may be copied and distributed subject to the
following conditions:
1.   All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be
included
2.   All copies must contain Microsoft's copyright notice and any other
notices provided therein
3.   This document may not be distributed for profit.

*****************************

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send email to
 listserv@listserv.syr.edu         In the message write EITHER:
 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
 3) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv
 For LM_NET Help & Archives see:  http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=