I've received almost that exact same text from a number of my Internet
Service customers. The message is being widely distributed on the
Internet, but it's a typical "send this to all your friends" hoax. It
doesn't really work.
It's true that most e-mail viruses depend on your e-mail program's address
book for gathering addresses. However most viruses currently in
circulation (the SirCam Worm, Hybris Worm, and BadTrans Worm for example)
don't actually depend on your mail program to send infected messages.
Instead they have their own built-in mail function that sends directly to
the mail server specified in your mail program's configuration. They send
one message at a time, so although the infected message to "!0000" won't
go anywhere, the infected messages to everyone else in your address book
will be delivered.
Sorry.
--
Chip Old (Francis E. Old) E-Mail: fold@bcpl.net
Manager, BCPL Network Services Phone: 410-887-6180
Manager, BCPL.NET Internet Services FAX: 410-887-2091
320 York Road
Towson, MD 21204 USA
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