March 2005 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:11924] Re: Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses?
by Dick Mondro 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

That's correct and as of this date (crossed fingers) Winlink 2000 has NEVER carried a computer virus. Even though we have over 1500 attempts daily, nothing gets through. Not to say it cannot happen, but we block the same file extensions that Norton blocks and add a few more. Currently, with the issue of the new virus contained in a zip file, .zip is temporarily blocked from the network. 73, Dick -----Original Message----- From: Kay Craigie [mailto:n3kn@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 1:43 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:11922] Re: Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses? This morning I talked with the local WINLINK expert person I referred to in the earlier message and he forwarded me some messages from the central mail server. Here's the 25-cent version. As you know, the effect of some computer viruses is to generate messages containing the virus to everybody in the infected computer's address book with spoofed origin addresses. When those address books contain addresses @winlink.org, the virus messages attempt to go through that network. Also, people whose computers are infected -- but they don't know it -- are unwittingly sending infected messages to friends who use @winlink.org addresses. Lately the WINLINK central mail server has been catching an average of 1,500 infected messages a day that are attempting to get into the network. Consequently the WINLINK development team announced on March 5 that they would take aggressive steps on March 8 (today) to stop the problem ... steps that many conventional ISP's would find difficult to accomplish. WINLINK network users are being reminded to be conscientious about keeping their computers virus-free and to advise their friends to ensure their computers are clean, too. 73 - Kay N3KN -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.6.4 - Release Date: 3/7/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.6.4 - Release Date: 3/7/2005

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[arrl-odv:11923] Building Pride Committee
by Kramer, Harold, WJ1B 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

Hi, As you probably know by now, we have decided to form a Building Pride Committee. The Committee will be comprised of representatives from every Department. The following staff members have volunteered to serve on this Committee: Ann Brinius - VEC Sue Fagan - Publications Ann Figat - Member Services Norm Fusaro - F&ES Mike Gruber - Lab Ed Hare - Lab Bob Inderbitzen - Marketing Debra Johnson - Development Greg Kwasowski - CFO Dennis Motschenbacher - Sales & Marketing Dave Patton - EVP Ann Marie Pinto - CFO The purpose of this committee is to: 1. Suggest and implement ways to improve the appearance and functionality of our building and work environment. 2. Develop some pride in our facilities. 3. And, enhance and improve our guests' experience when they visit us here at HQ. We have scheduled the first meeting of this Committee on Friday March 18th at 2pm in the Conference Room. The meeting should last one hour. We plan to have four or five meetings to complete our work. I will email everyone an agenda before the meeting. If you are on the committee, please RSVP to me. While we have appointed members from just about every department to this group, I believe that it is important for everyone to have input into this process. If you have any suggestions or ideas please give them to a committee member or you can send them to me. I am also sending this to the Director's list for their comments and ideas. Thanks in advance for your help and I am looking forward to meeting with the group and moving ahead. Harold Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 860 594 0220 www.arrl.org/

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[arrl-odv:11922] Re: Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses?
by Kay Craigie 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

X-GANYMEDE-MailScanner-SpamScos X-MailScanner-From: n3kn(a)comcast.net Return-Path: n3kn(a)comcast.net X-OriginalArrivalTime: 08 Mar 2005 18:54:14.0583 (UTC) FILETIME=[39174470:01C52410] This morning I talked with the local WINLINK expert person I referred to in the earlier message and he forwarded me some messages from the central mail server. Here's the 25-cent version. As you know, the effect of some computer viruses is to generate messages containing the virus to everybody in the infected computer's address book with spoofed origin addresses. When those address books contain addresses @winlink.org, the virus messages attempt to go through that network. Also, people whose computers are infected -- but they don't know it -- are unwittingly sending infected messages to friends who use @winlink.org addresses. Lately the WINLINK central mail server has been catching an average of 1,500 infected messages a day that are attempting to get into the network. Consequently the WINLINK development team announced on March 5 that they would take aggressive steps on March 8 (today) to stop the problem ... steps that many conventional ISP's would find difficult to accomplish. WINLINK network users are being reminded to be conscientious about keeping their computers virus-free and to advise their friends to ensure their computers are clean, too. 73 - Kay N3KN

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[arrl-odv:11920] Re: Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses?
by walstrom＠mchsi.com 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

Keep in mind F&ES is in charge of the network now. We should let them do their jobs here. I have not heard of problems like this previously, but we may just have been lucky. Two points in Andy Oppel's response on this topic yesterday stick out for me. First, most complaints of this kind about Winlink and the ARES network can be traced to one individual. Second, Winlink and ARES network users need to use virus protection just like the commercial ISPs do. 73, Wade W0EJ > Nothing heard here either. While it may be possible, I think if it were > happening Dick Mondro would have chimed in and brought us up to speed on it > since he's "connected" to that group. > > Any info, Dick? > > 73 Joel W5ZN > > -----Original Message----- > From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] > Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 8:57 PM > To: arrl-odv > Subject: [arrl-odv:11910] Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses? > > > 7 MAR, 2005 - 2045 CST > > For a couple of days, I have been witness to an email exchange among > several people that indicates Winlink is being attacked or carrying > computer viruses. I assume the conversation is about attached files > with virus payloads. Since Winlink is supposed to be a transparent > wireless extension of the Internet, it sounds plausible to me. > > Have any of you picked up any messages on this issue, if it is an issue? > > 73 - Dick, W9GIG > > > >

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[arrl-odv:11918] Re: LOTW/WAS Status
by Joel Harrison 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

TNX info, Harold. 73 Joel W5ZN -----Original Message----- From: Kramer, Harold, WJ1B [mailto:wj1b@arrl.org] Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 3:00 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Bloom, Jon, KE3Z; Mills, Wayne N7NG; Patton, David NN1N Subject: [arrl-odv:11907] LOTW/WAS Status Hi, Last week Joel Harrison inquired about our progress on adding WAS functionality to Log Book of the World. This project is important to us strategically since we want to continue our leadership in this area. Since that time, we have taken a number of steps to move this project up the priority list. Here are the actions that we are taking: 1. The primary developer of this project is Jon Bloom. Wayne Mills' participation is also critical. 2. Jon has a number of other critical tasks on his agenda that, if not completed in the next few weeks and months, will affect the operation of our entire web site. For example, our web host facility is moving and we need to transfer our entire web site to a new facility. 3. In order to free up some of Jon's time to work on DXCC/LOTW, we will require some additional human resources and outside software development expertise to complete the other web tasks. 4. Dave Sumner, Barry and I have discussed this issue and reviewed the budget. Based on our analysis, and the high priority of this project, we have committed additional financial resources to this project. 5. Jon and I are interviewing three firms in the next two weeks who may be able to help us with outside software development, therefore, freeing up Jon's time to concentrate on finishing the coding for WAS/LOTW. Jon's time estimate is about 150 hours worth of work. 6. Jon, Wayne and Dave Patten have been meeting to firm up the specifications for the WAS interface and functionality. This work should be completed by the end of the month. Based on these factors, we hope the complete the project within the next 150 to 180 days. If you have any questions on this, please feel free to contact me. 73, Harold Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 860 594 0220 www.arrl.org/

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[arrl-odv:11917] Re: Congratulations on April QST
by Joel Harrison 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

Harold, I haven't had an opportunity to tell you this....come to think of it, I don't believe I've ever told the staff either, but the one thing that is overlooked just about all the time is QST has always gone out the door, every month, on time and is an excellent, outstanding work product. That's not a small effort by any means. Anyone that thinks so should try to meet a production deadline EVERY month with a product like QST !! At times when people complain about QST, I asked "How many times has your QST been late, or never arrived?" Sure, there are a few every month due to the fine outstanding service provided by the USPS and other situations.....but they are few and isolated and usually don't recur. Good job. 73 Joel W5ZN -----Original Message----- From: Kramer, Harold, WJ1B [mailto:wj1b@arrl.org] Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 11:06 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:11906] Congratulations on April QST Hi, I would like to congratulate everyone on the production of the April QST - no fooling! Seriously, it takes the efforts of everyone in this building and many others to put out a magazine of this caliber every month and I certainly appreciate everyone's effort. My name is on this issue for the first time and it is a publication that I am very proud to be associated with. Thanks again everyone, Harold Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 860 594 0220 www.arrl.org/

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[arrl-odv:11919] Re: Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses?
by Joel Harrison 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

Nothing heard here either. While it may be possible, I think if it were happening Dick Mondro would have chimed in and brought us up to speed on it since he's "connected" to that group. Any info, Dick? 73 Joel W5ZN -----Original Message----- From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 8:57 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:11910] Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses? 7 MAR, 2005 - 2045 CST For a couple of days, I have been witness to an email exchange among several people that indicates Winlink is being attacked or carrying computer viruses. I assume the conversation is about attached files with virus payloads. Since Winlink is supposed to be a transparent wireless extension of the Internet, it sounds plausible to me. Have any of you picked up any messages on this issue, if it is an issue? 73 - Dick, W9GIG

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[arrl-odv:11926] Re: Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses?
by Kay Craigie 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

My county's ARES/RACES organization operates a PMBO that's used by ARES/RACES groups in the region. Our WINLINK guru is well plugged in to what's going on. I will see him during the next two or three days at some emergency comm exercises and ask what he's heard. I trust him to tell the truth. Individuals are responsible for keeping our own anti-virus software up to date, regardless of whether we use WINLINK, a conventional ISP, or both. 73 - Kay N3KN

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[arrl-odv:11913] Re: Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses?
by Andy Oppel 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

I've heard these claims before (and in times past, they all led a trail back to Skip Teller). Like any e-mail system, it is possible to attach files that contain various types of malware (viruses being only one form of malware), so the question is how much of it (if any gets through). There are dozens of new forms (if not hundreds) released "into the wild" every day of every year. For example, we used to think JPEG files were safe, until someone found a way to exploit them. Even the big guns in virus detection (McAfee, etc.) have a difficult time keeping up. However, Winlink advertises the following precautions on their web site, and I have no reason to doubt the validity of these claims: 1. Certain file attachment types are blocked from the system for the protection of the user from virus attacks. 2. Security is insured through the vigorous updating of virus definitions and automatic virus screening for all Internet mail and files. The system has the ability to block any user by both radio (by frequency band) and Internet (by email address) to prevent abuse of the system. SPAM is controlled through the use of a secure "acceptance list" methodology. Those are roughly the same precautions that the better ISPs offer. -- Andy Oppel, N6AJO Pacific Division Vice Director At 06:57 PM 3/7/2005, you wrote: >7 MAR, 2005 - 2045 CST > >For a couple of days, I have been witness to an email exchange among >several people that indicates Winlink is being attacked or carrying >computer viruses. I assume the conversation is about attached files >with virus payloads. Since Winlink is supposed to be a transparent >wireless extension of the Internet, it sounds plausible to me. > >Have any of you picked up any messages on this issue, if it is an issue? > >73 - Dick, W9GIG >

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[arrl-odv:11912] Re: Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses?
by Jim K8JE 08 Mar '05

08 Mar '05

Dick, I'd think Dick Mondro would have heard something about "viral infections" rather quickly. He stays pretty well plugged in to digital stuff. He's said nothing about this being a problem in the several E-mail and telephone exchanges we've had the past few months. Jim Weaver, K8JE Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL; http://www.arrl.org/ 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 Tel.: 513-459-0142; E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio Is! MEMBERS: The reason ARRL Is! -----Original Message----- From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 9:57 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:11910] Winlink Messages Can Carry Viruses? 7 MAR, 2005 - 2045 CST For a couple of days, I have been witness to an email exchange among several people that indicates Winlink is being attacked or carrying computer viruses. I assume the conversation is about attached files with virus payloads. Since Winlink is supposed to be a transparent wireless extension of the Internet, it sounds plausible to me. Have any of you picked up any messages on this issue, if it is an issue? 73 - Dick, W9GIG

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