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UBC Mathematics: MathNet FAQ [Email Viruses and Bad Attachments]



UBC Mathematics: MathNet FAQ [Email Viruses and Bad Attachments]



Question: What kind of Email or virus attachments does MathNet reject?
Author: Joseph Tam
Date: Oct 5, 2013

Certain file types are deemed too dangerous to be transferred by Email. These include executables, scripts, macros or any data that are not inert (i.e. may contain instructions which can have damaging effects). Viruses, spy-ware, ad-ware and malware are examples of these types of undesirable files.

Archives, such as .zip, may harbour viruses and malware, but are not filtered by our mail server because much useful content is distributed as Zip archives. People who receive these attachments from sources unknown to them, or in an unsolicited manner, ought to treat the contents as suspect until verified.

Following best practice guidelines, such as Microsoft's Outlook 2003 restrictions

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011402971033.aspx

the following file extensions have been banned:

.ade .adp .ani .app .asp .bas .bat .cer .chm .cla .class .cmd .com .cpl .crt csh .exe .fxp .hlp .hta .inf .ins .isp .its .js .jse .ksh .lnk .mad .maf .mag mam .maq .mar .mas .mat .mau .mav .maw .mda .mdb .mde .mdt .mdw .mdz .msc .msi msp .mst .ocx .ops .pcd .pif .prf .prg .pst .reg .scf .scr .sct .shb .shs .tmp url .vb .vbe .vbs .vsmacros .vss .vst .vsw .wmf .ws .wsc .wsf .wsh .zi

If there is a need to transfer this files of this type, the sender can rename the file attachment, or supply alternate methods for the recipient to access it (e.g. download via Web browser).

Anyone who tries to send us such an attachment, will receive an error message, and will be referred to a web page that explains the situation. For example, if a sender tries to Email an attachment named "xxx.exe", a mail error message will be generated that refers the sender to

http://www.math.ubc.ca/php/Reject/?Attach=xxx.exe

This page explains the situation to the sender, and offers alternate methods by which the attachment can be transferred.

UBC IT also distributes anti-virus protection for free. See this FAQ for more details.