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.
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