Unable to send email with an attachment to a Netlink-hosted address

Apart from the growing problem of spam, there is an increasing amount of damage and denial of service occuring to the detriment of most internet users, worldwide due to email viruses/worms.

Some of these are so damaging as to bring down arrays of mail servers because of the huge volumes of infected computers attempting to spread the virus. Even more damaging are the huge volumes of bounces (mail server error messages) being generated due to the behaviour of these infected computers.

A common characteristic of the worms is that they send email to unsuspecting users containing a dangerous payload - an executable file which infects your computer!

We strongly recommend that all our customers and, in fact all internet users install and keep updated a good virus checker, such as Vet (daily updates are recommended).

Netlink Connect have introduced a block on incoming mail which contains potentially dangerous 'Windows executable' attachments as of August 2003. Such emails (which constitute the email virus in the vast majority of instances) will not be accepted by our incoming mail server.
This has two benefits to our customers:

New or existing email viruses or worms will not be able to be emailed to them (even if your virus checker is up-to-date a newly released virus could infect your computer before the anti-virus companies have a chance to introduce a defence).
Excessive load on our mail server is reduced, thus ensuring that service is maintained for all customers.

Unfortunately, this type of block will prevent all Windows executable files from being emailed to our customers - even non-viruses.
In addition, due to the virulent activity of the 'Mydoom' virus we have had to introduce a block on Winzip (.zip) attachments as of January 2004.
If you need to legitimately send an executable file via email one solution is to use a compression program, such as ARH or Tar first and tben send the compressed file as an attachment (but not as a .zip file)...
Another solution is for our (Netlink Connect's) customer to use the Netlink 'unfiltered' mail server which is available as an alternate email address (and alternate pop server) to all of our customers. Information for Netlink customers.