From jasetaro@sprynet.com Fri Dec 15 07:01:09 2000
Newsgroups: alt.comp.virus
Subject: ALT.COMP.VIRUS POSTING GUIDELINES - READ ME FIRST
From: Jeffrey A. Setaro <jasetaro@sprynet.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 10:01:09 -0500

Archive-name: computer-virus/posting-guidelines
Posting-Frequency: Weekly
Copyright: (c) 2000 Jeffrey A. Setaro
Maintainer: Jeffrey A. Setaro <jasetaro@sprynet.com>

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COMPUTER VIRUS NEWSGROUP POSTING GUIDELINES

The latest version of this document is available at:

<http://home.sprynet.com/~jasetaro/acv/guidelines.htm>

Name:
 alt.comp.virus
Status:
 Unmoderated
Description:
 Forum for discussion of computer viruses and, their prevention/ 
 detection, as well as techniques and procedures for recovery from a 
 virus infection.

INTRODUCTION
====================
The purpose of the alt.comp.virus newsgroup is to provide a forum for
discussion of computer virus issues.

"Computer virus issues" are defined as follows: issues relating to
the creation, dissemination, prevention, detection, and removal of
computer viruses. Note that the discussion of these is not the same
as doing them. For example, discussing the dissemination of
computer viruses is OK, but spreading them via the newsgroup is not.

"Computer viruses" are defined as programs (blocks of executable
code) which attach themselves to, overwrite or otherwise replace
another program in order to reproduce itself without the knowledge of
the PC user. See the alt.comp.virus FAQ for a more thorough
definition.

ON-TOPIC POSTS
====================
Posts of the following types are expected (these are merely examples;
other topics may come up that are not listed here, but are
nevertheless still on-topic):

a. Questions concerning computer viruses and anti-virus products.

b. Experiences with viruses and anti-virus products.

c. Discussions of tests of anti-virus products.

d. Announcements of conferences, conventions, etc. related to
   computer viruses.

e. Announcements of anti-virus product updates or new anti-virus 
   products. Announcements of a commercial nature are acceptable, 
   provided they are brief and to the point (announcing a URL is 
   usually the best way to do this).

f. Conjecture as to the future of computer virus/anti-virus
   technology.

UNWELCOME POSTS
====================
Posts of the following types are considered to be unwelcome (Types of
posts not listed here may be considered unwelcome as well; these are
just the most common examples):

a. Binaries of any sort. If you want to distribute binaries of any 
   sort, put them on a web page or FTP site (with the sysadmin's 
   approval) and post the address where they may be found. That way, 
   you don't abuse UseNet in the process.

b. Source code that is not relevant to the discussion. Posting
   snippets of source code to elaborate on a point or further the
   discussion is fine, but posting source code without relevance to
   the discussion is unwelcome. Post it on a web page or FTP site (as
   above) or in the newsgroup alt.comp.virus.source.code.

c. Posts warning of 'viruses' which are in fact hoaxes. See:

   <http://www.vmyths.com/>

   and check if this new 'virus' is listed before posting the hoax 
   message and propagating the hoax further. Asking about hoaxes is 
   fine, but don't post the full text of the warning (just the name
   of the 'virus' will suffice to check whether it's a hoax).

d. Advertising or product announcements of non-virus related items.

e. Posts that do nothing more than ask for viruses or source code. If
   you want viruses, look for them yourself. They aren't that hard
   to find.

OTHER GUIDELINES
====================
DO NOT under any circumstances post malicious code, regardless of
whether it is compiled or source, to alt.comp.virus or in any other
public place. If suspect you may have a new virus, worm, or Trojan
horse program contact your anti-virus software provider for
instructions on how to submit a sample to them for analysis.

Please avoid posting in HTML. It isn't readable by a significant
portion of the group's members. Plain ASCII text is universally
readable, so it is preferable.

Please try to limit cross posting of posts outside alt.comp.virus.
Posting to directly-related groups is fine, but keep in mind that
follow-ups to your post will also be posted in cross-posted groups.
Check your headers before you post anyway, just to make sure where
your post is going.

Occasional jokes are welcome. If you don't find any humor in life,
try another newsgroup.

Trolls will be subjected to bone-crushing wrist locks and the
occasional wedgie.

These guidelines do not restrict how you talk about computer viruses,
as much as they restrict the conversations to computer virus related
issues. We are suggesting guidelines for this newsgroup so that it
will be enjoyable for everyone, without limiting people’s right to
express their views openly, even if they are unpopular. We don’t like
the idea of censorship. We do like the idea of proposed rules of
conduct and common courtesy.

ENFORCEMENT
====================
Enforcement Provision: Posts clearly in violation of these guidelines
(I.e. posts of virus binaries) will often result in complaints by
readers of a.c.v. to the Internet Service Provider of the person
posting the unwanted material. Alternatively or in addition, readers
of the group may killfile or otherwise ignore the offender. UseNet is
a lonely place if nobody replies to your posts.

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--
Jeffrey A. Setaro
jasetaro@sprynet.com
PGP Key IDs DH/DSS: 0x5D41429D RSA: 0x599D2A99