Anti-virus Email Footers

Can I just say that among my email pet peeves (and believe me, they are numerous) is when anti-virus software appends a message to outgoing mail, along the lines of:

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.20/1259 – Release Date: 4/02/2008

I copied this from a friend’s email, I won’t say whom. Remember, this is the sender’s computer which is appending this message. If my friend’s computer were infected with a nasty virus, which was spreading itself by sending email unbeknown to him, the virus could very easily add a similar tidbit to the end. Rationally, seeing such a message at the end of the email should in no way affect my confidence about whether or not this email contains a virus. It’s the equivalent of writing “This is not a mail-bomb,” on the front of every package you send.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *