Just received the following e-mail message from Apple, three times:
- From: System Attendant
To: “Washington, D.C. Upcoming Events”
Subject: ScanMail Message: To Recipient virus found and action taken.
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 11:27:30 -0500
ScanMail for Microsoft Exchange has detected virus-infected attachment(s).
Sender = Apple Events
Recipient(s) =Virginia-out@seminar.apple.com; Maryland-out@seminar.apple.com; WashingtonDC-out@seminar.apple.com; WestVirginia-out@seminar.apple.com; Delaware-out@seminar.apple.com; Pennsylvania-out@seminar.apple.com; Maine-out@seminar.apple.com; Massachusetts-out@seminar.apple.com; NewHampshire-out@seminar.apple.com; RhodeIsland-out@seminar.apple.com; Vermont-out@seminar.apple.com; NorthernCalifornia-out@list.seminars.apple.com; Nevada-out@seminar.apple.com; Idaho-out@seminar.apple.com; Wyoming-out@seminar.apple.com; Montana-out@seminar.apple.com; Oregon-out@seminar.apple.com; Washington-out@seminar.apple.com; Alaska-out@seminar.apple.com; Utah-out@seminar.apple.com; NewYork-out@seminar.apple.com; NewYorkCity-out@seminar.apple.com; NewJersey-out@seminar.apple.com; Connecticut-out@seminar.apple.com; Texas-out@seminar.apple.com; Oklah@apple.com
Subject = Trade Show: Seybold New York-Apple Events
Scanning Time = 01/18/2002 10:27:29
Action on virus found:
The attachment ATT45294.ATT matched file blocking settings. ScanMail has Moved it. The attachment was moved to
C:\PROGRA~1\Trend\Smex\Alert\ATT452943c484cf02d.ATT_.
Warning to recipient. ScanMail detected a virus in an email attachment.
—————————————————————————
Apple values its relationship with you.
This message is being sent to you as a result of your request to the Apple Seminars & Event email notification system.
This subscription was generated either by selecting “YES” for notice of upcoming events on your Event registration form or by direct request from the listserve.
If you wish to unsubscribe from this service visit: http://asp-web.info.apple.com/html/listserve.html
We’re sorry that we are unable to reply to e-mail messages.
I had gotten a legitimate message from them earlier in the day that did NOT have the ATT45294.ATT file attached, so I have no idea why the Chicago Daily Herald decided that these were the places to send this announcement to. The weird bit, though, is that these are announcement-only lists, so a) I shouldn’t be getting these messages, and b) I definitely shouldn’t be able to see what appears to be the “secret email addresses” that Apple apparently uses to send out announcements, all of which are plastered in the email. (And which I’ve modified in this posting, just in case Apple doesn’t get this fixed before a zillion spammers get their hands on them.)
In any case, a Windows virus scanner finding a virus in an email from Apple—possibly by mistake, as my copies don’t have that file—and then blasting recipient-only messages to entire mailing list that should be closed off, well, that was rich even before Apple signed off by telling me how much they value our relationship.
Ten bucks says that they’re not using LetterRip, the premier mailing list tool for the Mac, to manage these lists, ’cause with that software it’s just easy to set up your security.