"Larry" <noemail RemoveThis @email.com> wrote in message news:vIKcnctwY5xgXcKiU-KYvA@comcast.com...
>
> "FromTheRafters" <!0000@nomad.fake> wrote in message
> news:vluvi6a2blt71c@corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "Larry" <noemail RemoveThis @email.com> wrote in message
> news:HP-dnQdknLF-GcOiU-KYuA@comcast.com...
> > > My Norton program was apparently working fine scanning all incoming
> email
> > > for viruses. Over the last two days all my email has been coming with
> > > these words in the subject column: WARNING(virus check bypassed). What
> > > does this mean? I haven't changed any settings in outlook express or on
> > > Norton program. Why would the virus check be bypassed? Could it be
> > > something on Comcast (ISP) end? Is it the Norton program that is
> resposible
> > > for these warnings? Thanks for any suggestions.
> >
> > My guess is that your ISP has bypassed the virus
> > checking so that they won't be notifying the forged
> > "From:" address needlessly. Clients who have come
> > to rely on the ISP's AV (which is a mistake anyway
> > if you ask me) are thus being notified of the absence
> > (temporarily?) of that service. If this is the case, it is
> > a step in the right direction.
>
> Interesting. I'm a bit of a novice and I think I only understand some of
> your reply. I was never aware Comcast screened my email for viruses and I
> don't believe they ever advertised this service.
Maybe they don't, like I said it was only a guess. I suppose
that you could ask them. It could be that they don't scan
to provide a service to the customer, but rather to be a good
netizen by filtering out the prevalent mass mailers.
> I would think they would
> mention this, if they performed it - as it would attract/satisfy some
> customers. I know I've received viruses in emails before. Are you saying
> my Norton is likely still screening my email, despite this message -
I don't know, I have never used an e-mail scanning AV product,
but I assume that if it was a Norton AV message they wouldn't
miss an opportunity to mention their name in the message.
You could test your e-mail scanning with a test file like the
EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE
X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
The above 68 characters, alone in an attached file named eicar.com
should cause Norton to alert if it is scanning e-mail. You can Google
for EICAR and find some places willing to send the test file to you
if you can't send it to yourself (or have a friend do it).
> as this
> would make me happier. I don't follow the other stuff about the forged
> address - sorry.
Additional unneeded information....
> Who would be notifying who,
The system identifying the fact that an e-mail was found to contain
a worm (kinda like a virus) would want to inform the infected
party so that they could take steps to clean up their machine.
> and why would they want to avoid it?
Many of the recent mass mailing worms lie about who sent them,
so informing the apparent sender only aggravates the innocent
"Joe-jobbed" party, and does nothing to inform the actual infected
victim (sender). Many people are practically getting "mail-bombed"
by the AV programs which are trying to do a good deed (in a very
misguided way).
> Thanks for the reply though and I found it more helpful that Bill's,
> although I'm sure he's doing his best to be helpful here.
Hmmm....
>> Stay informed about: virus check bypassed 
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