[at-l] Odd stuff in posts ...

[cleek@csc.smsu.edu (Billie H. Cleek)]

It is true that no virus can exist in ASCII text. ASCII text is pretty
straighforward stuff. HTML, strictly speaking, is also just ASCII
text. However, programs like Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, etc, can
interpret HTML tags and render them appropriately. HTML can also contain
links, embedded scripts, links to images, etc. In general you don't have
anything to worry about if you don't activate any scripts (.vbs, .exe,
.scr, .bat). For instance, when LoveBug came out I got it; I did not
however, spread it. I opened it up, read the code and saw what it did, and
alerted my computer geek friends. 

Cleek

On Tue, 9 Jan 2001, David Hicks wrote:

> Nice post.
> 
> With your grasp of some of the technical issues would you address one point
> I have seen others make, but don't have the knowledge to assess?
> 
> Is it true that plain text (ASCII??) is rather safe from virus and other
> baddies, whereas,  HTML by adding capabilities such as background images and
> scripting, etc opens the door to them.
> 
> Chainsaw
> 
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