From aleewk@BABEL.ling.upenn.edu Tue Feb  4 19:05 EST 1997
From: aleewk@BABEL.ling.upenn.edu (Alan Lee Wai Keong)
Subject: Word 6.0 virus
To: linglist@babel.ling.upenn.edu

Salam all,

By the decree of computer guru Alexis, I am hereby writing a note about
this annoying macro virus, nicknamed the Concept Virus, that's been
infecting Word 6.0 on both Artemis and Venus in 404.  If some of your
Word 6.0 documents have been automatically converted into Template format
when you saved it, then the file is infected.  (the icon of template
documents has an arrow on it instead of the usual 'W' symbol used for Word
files.  Also, templates cannot be reconverted into Word files using the
"Save As ..." command).
       
  We recently ran some anti-virus type thing on both Artemis and Venus over
the weekend, so Word 6.0 is clean on both machines now.  A Concept virus
detector ha s also been installed, so whenever anyone tries to open an
infected document, a prompt message will come on.  This message is long and
boring, containing some shebang about wh ether you want to disable the
'macros' on the document.

CLICK "YES" to disable the macros.

The document will now open under some generic name, like 'Document1' but it
will be uninfected.  Resave the document, preferably using the name you had
previously given the once-infected document.  It should now be saved as a
harmless Word fil e instead of an infected document template.

Note: Certain document templates will open under Word 6.0 on Venus and
Artemis without the prompt message coming on.  These files are NOT infected
(how they we re inadvertently saved as template files to begin with is
beyond me).  If you want to reconvert these templates into Word files,
simply copy the whole content of the file onto a new document ("Select
all", "Copy", open a new document, then PASTE!!).  Save the new document
(it should save as a Word file) and trash the sordid infected o ne.

Last thing (forgive the long-windedness), the virus appears to be a
relatively harmless one, although I guess there are things you cannot do
with templates which you can with Word files ...  [You cannot save them as
Word 5 documents, and you may have problems printing-- alexis] So, unless
you wanted it that way, don't leave your files as document templates but
convert them back into Word files.  This way, you can be sure that they are
not infected.  And if you want the anti-virus thing for yo ur own Word 6.0,
you could copy it off Venus or Artemis.  Talk to Alexis or me about it
(giving the details over e-mail will greatly extend the length of this
message).  There's also a URL somewhere for you to download the program off
the web, but I cannot for the life of me remember it at this moment
... shall look for it.

Thanks for reading.  Bye!

alan