Go to www.jbmckee.com/formatit/ Copy email into this form. In area designated as "filter" put > and voilá... all brackets are gone. Try it for yourself.

Or use this program suggested by it's designer, Theresa King, http://www.hostswan.com/strip.html

Any way you do it... please remove those pesky >>>> before you forward mail. Your friends and clients will thank you!

The reason for my tone in this article is that I would like these people, mainly young, bored and misdirected, to realise that what they are doing is not "cool". We do not consider them to be "hackers"....just annoying, immature criminals. If entire Internet community took on same attitude towards this behaviour, it may encourage them to cease it. There is no glory in what they are doing, and very little skill involved.......

Even using term "Script Kiddie" in reference to them relays derision that they deserve. Calling them hackers is a boost to their rather sad egos.

If this article has stirred your interest in subject of Internet security, and security of your own computer, I strongly recommend a visit to http://www.grc.com and testing your computer out on their online diagnostic - "Shields Up". I ran this test last year and was horrified at what information I was unknowingly giving away. The owners of grc.com, Gibson Corporation, are well respected in Internet Security Community and tests are carried out under secure conditions. And yes, it's free................

Even if you do use latest virus scanner that can detect these types of Trojans (they aren't actually virii), it's still worth a trip out there. The method of attack stated above is only just one of many invasion strategies currently in use.

As for personal firewall security, check out http://www.zonealarm.com. Zone Alarm is one of best products on market - and there are free versions for home users.

Your ports have most likely been probed while you have been online today....and you probably wouldn't even know it......

Michael Bloch  michael@tamingthebeast.net  www.tamingthebeast.net Tutorials, web content and tools, software and community Marketing, eCommerce and General Training Services _____________________________________________ 

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