Containing/Detecting a Worm Virus

[ET]

I don’t consider myself really computer smart but felt this is one good tip to pass on that I recently received.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ADDRESS BOOK!
I learned a computer trick today that's really
ingenious in its simplicity. As you may know,
when/if a worm virus gets into your computer it
heads straight for your email address book, and
sends itself to everyone in there, thus infecting
all your friends and associates.
This trick won't keep the virus from getting into
Your computer, but it will stop it from using your
address book to spread further, and it will alert
you to the fact that the worm has gotten into your
System.

Here's what you do:

First, open your address book and click on "new
contact," just as you would do if you were adding a
new friend to your list of email addresses.

In the window where you would type your friend's
first name, type in "A".

For the screen name or email address, type
"[e-mail]".

Now, here's what you've done and why it works:

The "name" "A" will be placed at the top of your
address book as entry#1.

This will be where the worm will start in an effort
to send itself to all your friends.

But, when it tries to send itself to
[e-mail], it will be undeliverable because of
the phony email address you entered. If the first
attempt fails (which it will because of the phony
address), the worm goes no further and your friends
will not be infected.

Here's the second great advantage of this method:

If an email cannot be delivered, you will be
notified of this in your In Box almost immediately.
Hence, if you ever get an email telling you that an
email addressed to [e-mail] could not be
delivered, you know right away that you have the
worm virus in your system. You can then take steps
to get rid of it!

Pretty slick huh?

If everybody you know does this then you need not
ever worry about opening mail from friends.

Pass this on to all your friends

[chuck41]

Nice theory, but it don't work. At least not for me.

The first item in the list does kick back a return message that there was an error, but the rest of the list is still sent out.

[northny]

I agree it may not defeat the virus, but it is a neat way of being alerted you have one. I have added it to my address book, and never hope to see it in my in box as not delivered!